§ The Duke of Richmondwished to call their Lordships' attention to the Petitions of the inhabitants of two places in Sussex. The petitions related to the new Poor-law Bill, and more particularly to that Clause of it which related to the expense of building workhouses. The farmers and the tenants for short periods chiefly complained of this Clause, for as their interest was only to last for a few years, if the expense of these buildings was thrown on them the landlords would have all the advantage at their cost. He regretted the existence of the Clause, and thought that the tenants had a just right to complain, and the landlords ought to pay their fair share of the expense. In his opinion the parishes should borrow the money, and should have an extended time to pay it in. He should suggest as an alteration in that part of the Bill, that they should lend money to the parishes at a small rate per cent, payable at some years after the loan; he wished the Government would consider the suggestion.
The Earl of Radnorsaid, that if his memory did not deceive him, the money that was to be laid out in the repairing or the building of workhouses was to be paid off in five or ten years, a fact which seemed to him to meet the views of the noble Duke.
§ The Duke of Richmondsaid, that that was the case with regard to such of the money as was borrowed, but was not the case with such money as was raised by rates. In his opinion, however, ten years, did not afford sufficient time, and he should suggest twenty or twenty-five years. The petitioners suggested thirty years; but he thought that too much.