HL Deb 27 July 1848 vol 100 cc894-5

LORD CAMPBELL moved the Third Reading of the Bill.

The BISHOP of LONDON

could not allow this Bill to pass without expressing his great satisfaction at the result of their Lordships' concession to the wishes of several Members of their Lordships' House in referring this Bill to a Select Committee. That Select Committee had laboured assiduously and fulfilled the promise which was given to their Lordships, that there should he no unnecessary delay in submitting an improved measure to their Lordships. He considered they had improved the measure in many important respects; and that it would go down to the other House in such a form as that no reasonable objection could be made to it. He considered, indeed, that a Bill more important to the welfare of the public had not been passed for many years. He could not help alluding to one amendment—which, he trusted, he might be allowed to call an improvement—which he himself had the honour of proposing to the Select Committee, and which had met with their concurrence—he meant an amendment to the effect that in certain cases, where it should be shown, by comparison with past periods, that a more than average rate of mortality was taking place, the General Board might interfere without any application being made to them. He thought that when it was their wish to improve the sanitary condition of the country, the introduction of such a clause was a decided improvement to the Bill. In his opinion, the present might be called the Poor Man's Bill. He had always held that in any regulations for the improvement of the sanitary condition of the country the welfare of the labouring part of the population ought to receive especial attention, for in those matters the rich would take care of themselves. He was therefore thankful to their Lordships for having passed so important and salutary a measure.

Bill read 3a and passed.

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