§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that out of thirty-four houses in Great George Square, Liverpool, eleven are habitually used as emigrant lodging houses and are overcrowded; is he aware that when the houses Nos. 11 and 18 Great George Square were visited on the 25th March last by Inspector Ball, he found at the former house no fewer than eighty-six persons in excess of the regulation number, while at the latter house he found sixty-one in excess; and, seeing that the houses are the property of the Corporation of Liverpool, will he consider the expediency of communicating with that body on the subject, having regard to the fact that an epidemic of smallpox has been raging at Liverpool for upwards of six months.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI have communicated with the Town Clerk of Liverpool on this subject, and he informs me that in Great George Square there are nine houses registered for the 690 accommodation of emigrants. None of these are in the possession of the Corporation. It is stated that the houses are of a high class of respectability, and that the emigrants using them are chiefly Scandinavians, who are cleanly and well conducted people. The houses are stated to be kept scrupulously clean. They are under the supervision of the Corporation and are visited daily and frequently by night also. The unexpected arrival of a large body of emigrants on the 25th of March resulted in an excessive number being received into Nos. 11 and 18. Proceedings were taken by the Corporation in respect of the overcrowding thus caused and a fine was imposed in each case. As regards small-pox, I am assured that the disease is very rarely introduced into Liverpool by emigrants, who, as a rule, are vaccinated before starting. I am glad to add that the outbreak at Liverpool is stated to be subsiding—a result which appears to be largely owing to the strenuous action taken by the Corporation.