§ The EARL of DEVONmoved the Second Reading of this Bill.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEgave notice that in Committee he would move an Amendment which would restrain the power of giving agricultural labour to young persons in the workhouses.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, he had prepared an Amendment very much to the effect indicated by his noble Friend. He considered that it might be expedient to employ the paupers in the cultivation of land with the view to their improvement in the science of agriculture, and in order that they might have placed before their eyes the best methods of cultivation. For these purposes it was proposed to give the poor-law guardians power so to employ them when the Poor Law Commissioners approved of it; but he did not conceive it would be right to employ the paupers in agricultural labour with the view to profit.
§ The EARL of DEVONhad no objection to an Amendment to that effect.
The EARL of MOUNTCASHELLsupported the Bill. As a poor-law guardian he knew how detrimental to the character of the poor it was, to shut them up together without employment—it gave them habits of laziness which were scarcely ever eradicated. The proposed plan would also much improve the health of the paupers.
§ Bill read 2a.
§ House adjourned.