POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND) BILL.

HL Deb 07 June 1847 vol 93 cc173-4

On the Order of the Day being read for going into Committee on the Poor Removal (England and Scotland) Bill,

LORD CAMPBELL moved that the House do now resolve itself into Committee; and expressed his approval of the measure. The Removal Act of the 8th and 9th Victoria had worked most inefficiently, and the object of this Bill was to remedy the evils of the existing law. The Bill would also contain provisions for the removal of Irish or Scotch paupers who might be resident in this country. Their Lordships were well aware that a great number of Irish paupers had recently come over to this country; and he might state that he was acquainted with cases of paupers and their families having been sent to this country from Ireland by members of relief committees. There wore at present no means of sending such persons back to their own country; but the present Bill would provide a remedy for that defect in the law.

LORD BROUGHAM

seconded the Motion.

After a short conversation, in which the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH, the Marquess of LANSDOWNE, Earl FITZWILLIAM, and Lord CAMPBELL took part,

The EARL OF WICKLOW

said, he must oppose the Bill, which certainly was the most unconstitutional, unjust, and iniquitous, that had ever been brought before the House since he had been in Parliament. He was sure that the noble and learned Lord, who, contrary to the usual practice of the House, had seconded the Motion, had never read this Bill, or the Act which it was intended to amend. The noble and learned Lord merely supported the Bill because 236,000 Irish paupers had landed at Liverpool since the beginning of the year. Now he must repeat the statement which he made some time ago when a petition on this subject was presented, that the advantages which the town of Liverpool had derived, in consequence of the high price of food, far counterbalanced the expense to which it had been put in the shape of rates for the relief of the distressed Irish. He must insist, also, that the existing law was only inoperative because the magistrates of Liverpool and other places in England had neglected to perform their duty.

LORD BEAUMONT

observed, that the entire of his noble Friend's complaint really amounted to nothing, as the measure now under consideration merely gave the poor-law guardians the authority which the constables now exercised with respect to the removal of paupers. The noble Lord (Lord Beaumont) defended the Bill on the ground that it was necessary to the country and humane to the Irish poor.

House in Committee.

Bill reported without Amendment.