MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS. (Hansard, 2 July 1888)

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
, in rising to move— 12 That an humble Adresss be presented to Her Majesty thanking Her Majesty for laying before Parliament the Report on the prevalence of enteric fever in the Royal Barracks, Dublin; and to pray Her Majesty to give directions that the recommendations contained therein may be carried out, said, that someone was censurable for the defective Returns, which made scanty mention of the sickness that had been suffered by officers of the garrison. There were three cases of enteric fever given in the Report which had not been mentioned in the Returns ordered by their Lordships' House on the 29th September last. A son of a noble Lord, Mr. Stanley, had suffered very seriously, and there was no doubt that his illness was contracted while in the Dublin Garrison. If the Return had been anything like complete, it would certainly have mentioned the cases of a greater number of officers. The Report recommended that certain structural alterations in the barracks should be made. He did not know how far these were being carried on at present, which was a time of year when works of that kind, if they were to be undertaken at all, could be undertaken with the greatest advantage. With regard to the ventilation appliances not being left at the soldiers' control, and things of that sort, proper instructions might be given.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord HARRIS)
said, he was afraid he did not quite understand what the noble Earl complained of. With regard to the difference between the Returns and the Report, the Cavalry square was alluded to as being the part occupied by some officers, and that in the Returns there was only the case of one officer as having resided in the Cavalry barrack and having contracted zymotic disease.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
Enteric fever.

LORD HARRIS
Enteric fever in the Report, but zymotic disease in the Returns. He did not see anything discordant in the two; but if the noble Earl had been good enough to point that out to him before coming down to the House he would have asked for an explanation from the responsible official, and he 13 would subsequently do so. It was hardly necessary for the noble Earl to move the latter part of his Motion, because the Government were endeavouring to carry out the recommendations of the Report as quickly and as completely as they could. The first recommendation was as to the subsoil drainage, and what had been done was that the subsoil drain had been cut off from the Arbour Hill Hospital in the old cemetery—or, rather, money had been authorized for the purpose, and that was being done, so that there was no drainage from the Arbour Hill Hospital coming down into the drain at the Royal Barracks. Then, as regarded the demolitions that had been recommended, he wished to repeat what he had pointed out some time before, that it was impossible, without redistributing the troops very considerably, which they were unable to do at present, to carry out all the demolitions recommended; but they had got authority to demolish the ends of two lanes that separated the Cavalry square from the central square, and also the small buildings that stood out in those lanes. As regarded the old timber that was to be removed, they were carrying out the same experiments elsewhere in respect to what was the best to be employed for flooring, and they intended to introduce it into the Royal Barracks. A very strong impression existed that the present ventilation appliance was out of the reach of the soldiers. All the sewage had been disinfected. The defects in the closet arrangements had remedied, and new closets provided for the women and children. The recommendation with regard to the ventilating of the main sewer by means of a shaft had been completely carried out. Lactometers had been supplied to all the regiments, and officers and non-commissioned officers had been instructed in their use. It had been reported that the supply of milk had since been very much improved. The recommendations as to a stone drain had also been carried out; and, lastly, the Richmond Bridewell had been taken over, and the expenditure of a large sum of money upon it had been sanctioned in order to fit it up for the accommodation of 350 men.

§ THE EARL OF HOWTH
observed, that while the improvements were being carried out there was increased danger of infection, and he sincerely trusted 14 that the military authorities would leave nothing undone in order to secure the safety of the regiments with regard to health during the construction of the new works.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
observed that the Returns referred to had relation only, as he understood, to the Royal Barracks.

LORD HARRIS
said the Returns related to the Dublin garrison.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
said, that when this subject was before their Lordships on the last occasion the condition of Richmond Barracks was also referred to. There could be no doubt that the amount of sickness at the Richmond Barracks was much greater than it ought to have been, and he should like to know whether anything had been done in the matter?

LORD HARRIS
said, he would make inquiries.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
complained that no mention whatever had been made of the Richmond Bridewell in the Report.

§ THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
said, he thought that some allowance should be made for the difficulties experienced in carrying out the recommendations made in the Report. Every endeavour had been made, and was being made, to meet those difficulties and to give effect to the recommendations. They had to dispose of the garrison, and only short notice had been given to carry out any new arrangements; but he could assure the noble Earl that the subject was receiving every consideration. It was intended to build new Cavalry barracks, but that was a matter of time, and meanwhile the garrison must be kept up. He was afraid, therefore, that a certain amount of inconvenience would have to be submitted to. Their Lordships must remember that in other parts of Dublin there was a good deal of enteric fever, and that it was not surprising that the barracks also suffered to some extent.