The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-30 00:00:00

THE SCOTCH AND IRISH PAUPERS' REMOVAL BILL.

The Chairman stated that a deputation, consisting of the
vestry clerk and himself, waited upon the Poor Law Board
last week, in reference to the Scotch and Irish Pauper Removal
Bill. They were received very politely by the Poor Law
Board, and bowed out very politely, the Board not stating
whether or not they agreed with the views of the deputation.
Considerable pains ha l. been taken by the vestry clerk to pre=
pare a statement applicable, not only to the case of that parish,
but to every important parish in England and Scotland. This
statement was very largely circulaled throughout all the
parishes, previous to going before the Poor Law Board, and
the result was, that in a few days they bad an immense
number of letters from all quarters, promising hearty co—
operation. A large deputation, amounting to twenty-three
deputies, met also in London last week, at a central place, to
confer upon the question, and take further proceedings. The
deputies, or a majority of them, waited again upon the Poor-
Imv Board. Whatever might be the result of that deputation,
one thing was certain, that the bill had not yet been brought
in, as stated. It had been postponed two or three times, and
now stood for a second reading, precisely as it did three weeks

ago. Whether the bill would be persevered with or not, he
could not say ; but he must express his own opinion that, if
it were passed, it would be a grievous infliction, not only on
the parish of Liverpool, but upon every large parish in Eng-
land and Scotland ; and that whatever effort might be wanted
on the part of that parish, to enforce upon Government the
necessity of withdrawing the bill, should not be spared by
them. (Hear, hear.) The deputies told the Poor-law Board,
plainly, that they did not object to the Irish passing from one
part of the country to another, upon fair and legitimate business ;
but they had a strong objection to having Liverpool, Warrington,
and other places inundated with Irish paupers, sent over here
at a trifling cost. The Poor Law Board asked what remedy
the deputation could propose, to which the deputation replied,
" that they had none to propose. " The board asked what
amendment they would suggest, and the deputation replied,
" that the only remedy they could suggest, was the withdrawal
of the bill as wholly inconsistent with justice," (Hear, hear.)
The Chairman then assured the meeting, that so far as the
deputation was concerned, nothing should be wanting to
support the interests of the parish, and ho hoped that the result
would be satisfactory. He proposed that a petition be prepared,
in accordance with the views expressed in the statement drawn
up by the Clerk, that it be signed on behalf of the board, and
entrusted to the borough members for presentation to the
House of Commons. He added, that both Mr. Horsfall and
Mr- Ewart had paid every possible attention to the interests of
the parish, and gave their hearty co-operation to the de-
putation.
Mr. Shaw seconded the ' resolution, and expressed his
full concurrence with every word, which had been uttered by
the Chairman. He considered the measure a most base and
iniquitous one.
Mr. Whitty asked whether there was any evidence at all of
any systematic practice of sending over Irish poor from the
Irish parishes. This was alluded to in the statement of the
board, and he thought it rather unfair to embody it there unless
some evidence of the practice existed to the clerk's own
knowledge.

The dlerk said evidence to that effect had been given before
the select committee of the House of Commons.
Mr: Whitty said the board had adopted the statement as if
they had some evidence of it themselves to their own know-
ledge. Now, he did not believe there was any such systematic
plan in existence, of sending over poor from the Irish unions.
He quite approved of the board opposing the measure upon its
own merits, but he thought it very wrong to charge Irish
boards of guardians with a systematic practice of which ho did
not believe they were at all aware. _

The Clerk said it had been stated before the select committee,
and he believed there would be no difficulty at all in producing
witnesses who had seen it milled on to some extent. (Rear,

hear.)
The Chairman said Mr. Ewart stated distinctly before the
Poor Law Board, that he knew, as being extensively engaged
in the steamboats, that paupers were frequently sent over here
from Ireland at a cost of is or 6d a piece, while 2s 6d or
33 was charged to the parishes here for sending them back.
In 1847 and 1848 Mr. Whitty could have seen positive
evidence of the systematic manner in which the Irish paupers

were sent over here.
Mi. Shaw expressed a similar opinion to that of the

chairman.
Mr. Whitty still objected to the board embodying in their
statement, on such very slight evidence, a definite charge

Linst the boards of guardians in Ireland.

so serious

The Chairman said the Irish boards did not, of course,
publish to the world that they were sending over the poor
here, but it was found from practical experience, that
when any pressure arose in Ireland, masses of the paupers
did find their way over to England. (hear, hear.)

Mr. Whitty said he had no doubt that at a time of pressure
in Ireland large numbers of paupers did find their way over
here. But this arose from the necessities of the country, and
it did not prove the existence of any such unprincipled system
on the part of Irish boards of guardians; as the sending over
their paupers here in boat-loads. Let them oppose the bill
upon its own merits, but not make it the means of introducing
a serious charge against Irish boards of guardians on very slight

evidence.

After some further conversation the motion for the adoption
of the petition etas put and carried.
Mr. Jackson moved that a copy of the statement drawn up
by the clerk be sent to every member of the House of Com-

~......
Mr. Satchell seconded the motion, which was also carried.

WoRKHOUSE COMMITTEE

The minutes of this committee were read, from which it
appeared that the numbers admitted to the vagrant sheds last
week were, 190 males, 52 females, and 15 children, in all
257. The number of sick cases in hospital, on the 19th inst.,
was 641, including 49 fever, and 49 itch. The total number
in the house on the 23rd inst. was 2,314.

Mr. Shaw moved the confirmation of the minutes, which
did not contain anything of public importance.

Tho minutes wore confirmed.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The minutes of this committee was read, but did not con-
tain anything beyond details of management. They were
confirmed after a short conversation.