Lords Sitting of 10 July 1877

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading— Factors Acts Amendment* (140).
Select Committee—Report—Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Artisans and Labourers Dwellings) * (139).
Committee—Report—New Forest* (129).
Report—Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Joint Boards) * (131).

ARTIZANS AND LABOURERS' DWELLINGS ACT—DEMOLITIONS IN FETTER LANE.—OBSERVATIONS.
THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURYdesired to call attention to the accounts which had appeared in the newspapers of the hardships that had been inflicted upon the poorer class of inhabitants of Blewitt's Buildings, in Fetter Lane, in consequence of their eviction from their dwellings for the purpose of the improvements about to be made in that district under the Artizans and Labourers' Dwellings Act; and wished to know whether the attention of the Government had been called to the subject?
EARL BEAUCHAMP,in reply, stated that in consequence of these statements in the newspapers an inquiry had been made, the result of which did not bear out their statements, which were more picturesque than accurate. He had not any detailed information as to the number of persons who were affected by the scheme; but the district was scheduled in the Act of last year, and the notices had been duly served upon the inhabitants of Blewitt's Buildings—to which, however, they paid not the slightest attention. The attention of the Sanitary Committee of the Commissioners of Sewers had been directed to the disgraceful condition of these buildings; and on the 12th of June last the Sanitary Committee reported that the place was notorious for some of the worst offences against the sanitary law, and was a standing disgrace owing to the conduct of the tenants, who had set the owner at defiance. The Commissioners directed their clerk to refer at once to the freeholder, and direct him to put the
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buildings in order without any further delay; but the powers given by the Artizans Dwellings Act had not been put in force, in consequence of the owner having undertaken to pull the houses down within three months. However, nothing had been done, in consequence of the persistent refusal of the occupiers to turn out, and the nuisance had become so great that it was necessary for the sanitary authorities to take action in the matter. The usual three months' notice was given to the tenants; but they had either forgotten it, or set it altogether at defiance. The principle of the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Act was that the inhabitants of all houses which were a source of danger to themselves or their neighbours should be compelled to leave them; and he did not think that those who set themselves in absolute defiance of the law deserved any sympathy at the hands of their Lordships.

NAVY—H.M.S. "INFLEXIBLE."

  OBSERVATIONS.
  THE DUKE OF SOMERSETsaid, that a Question which he had intended to put to the Government that day with reference to the Inflexible had been forestalled by the decision of the Government to have the vessel's stability tested by the calculation of a Commission or committee of experts. Under these circumstances, he would only point out that it was very desirable when this problem was submitted to scientific men that the data upon which they were to proceed should be thoroughly understood, because he rather suspected that some misunderstanding on that point was the cause of the difference of opinion which at present existed between the Admiralty on the one hand and Mr. Reed and his followers on the other.
  THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONassured the noble Duke that the Commission about to be issued would consist of gentlemen who were perfectly competent to deal with the subject, and who were in no way connected with the Admiralty. The data upon which they would proceed would, he trusted, be such that when the result of their deliberations was made known, the public mind would be perfectly satisfied.

NEW FOREST BILL—(No. 129.)
(The Lord President.)
NEW FOREST BILL—(No. 129.)

  COMMITTEE.
  Order of the Day for the House to be put into a Committee, read.
  THE DUKE OF SOMERSETsaid, that having on the second reading stated his objections generally to the Bill as injurious to the interests of the Crown, he did not propose now to raise any objection to the clauses.
  House in Committee accordingly; Bill reported, without Amendment; and to be read 3a on Thursday next.
  House adjourned at half past Five o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.