The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-02 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS ACT.

Mr. FORSTER wished to know from the noble lord at
the head of the Woods and Forests, whether, in pursuance of
a promise made last Pension, any bill was in preparation to
remedy the defects in the Metropolitan Buildings Act.
Lord MORPETH raid that a bill had been some time in
preparation, and would be shortly laid on the table.
BOARD OF WORKS (IRELAND).
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN would be glad to learn whether I
certain promised inquiries had been made respecting the
wages paid to labourers employed under the Board of Works
in the county of Sligo, as alto the remuneration given to
overseen and pay-clerks in the same county.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE had made inquiries and had oar-
tained that the wages given to the labourers in Sligo
amounted to only eightpenee a day, and the reasons which
bad induced the Board of Works to fix them at that rate were
these. In the first piece it was desired as much as possible
to encourage task work, and the labourers getting eight-
pence a day were only these who refused task work. Then
it should he remembered that the ordinary wages for agri-
cultural labour in Ireland were only sixpence a day, and it
was extremely important that not more labour then was
absolutely necessary should be diverted from the cultivation
of the soil. Under these circumstances the board had

thought it better to fix the wages at eightpence, providing
for the cues where it was insufficient for the support of a
family, by allowing more than one member of such family
to be rated on the works. With reference to the other
point, namely, the proportion whirls the expenses of the
staff bore to the expenditure for labour, he had
made inquiries, and he could assure the hon. member
that any apprehensions on that subject were nr.founded.
The number of labourers employed on the public works in
Sligo fluctuated between 19 and 22,000. For these, there
was one pay clerk for 1250 labourers, one overseer for every
40, and one check-clerk for every 250, tbe expenses of the
whole staff being 21101 per menth. This was of course ex-
clusive of the inspectors' salaries, who were paid out of the
consolidated fund
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said that the regulations of the
Board of Works with regard to wages would not provide for
the case of a man who had am small children. . .

Mr. P. SCROPE wished to ask a question respecting the
infirm poor why were unable to work on the roads. He
wished to know what was to be done with them until the
new act came into operation. He understood that the pub-
lic works were to cease at once, end in that cue he wished
to know front what source the women and children were to
derive support?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the change from the
works to the new mode of toilet would be graduated so as
not to render likely any increase of destitution.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether government had
fixed any day for the cessation of public expenditure on pub-
lic works in Ireland.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that his general directions to
the Board of Works had been to bring the works to a conclu-
sion as rapidly as was consistent with the safety of Ireland,
and the necessities of is dratitution. (Hear, hear.)
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.

Sir R. INGLIS asked when it was intended to take the
next stage of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill.
Mr. B. ESCOTT said that his hon. and learned friend,
the member for Kinsale, meant to take the committee on
the first Wednesday after the Easter holidays.
Mr. 0. STANLEY wished to know whether the hon. and
learned member for Winchester could explain the alterations
in that part of the bill which related to the Act 10 Geo. IV.
Mr. B. ESCOTT believed that his hon. and learned
' friend would wholly satisfy the hon. member as regarded
processions, but as to any other alteration be must refer the
hon. member to his hon. and learned friend.

CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL (IRELAND.)
Sir D. NORREYS begged to ask whether government
had taken any steps towards ascertaining if additional land
were being prepared in Ireland for corn crops. He suggested
whether it would not be desirable to appeal by proclama-
tion to the Irish proprietors, calling on theta to lay down
every available piece of land for corn, so as to supply the loss
of the notato crop.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he was in constant commu-
nication with the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland on this most

Important subject, and he was eorry to say that he was not
at all satisfied that there was in Ireland sufficient land
being prepared for tillage to supply the want of the potato
eupposmg none of the latter to be sawn. With respect to a
proclamation recommending tillage, he did not think it at
aU desirable that government should interfere in such •
question. (Hear, hear) Ha was quite sure that the Lord
lieutenant had already called the attention of the landed
proprietors to the subject, and besides, he really thought
that the proprietors and formers themselves should be fully
aware of the danger likely to arise from a failure in the
quantity of food next season. He hoped and trusted that
they would devote their best exertions to the prevention of
such a result.