The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-13 00:00:00

POOR-LAW IN IRELAND.

Lord CASTLEREAGFI presented a petition from
the board of guardians of a parish i❑ the county Down,
praying for an extension and alteration of the Irish
poor-law. Also, a petition from the parish of New-
townards, praying for an equalisation of the rating
system.
Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the assess ors
and collectors of property and the assessed taxes, in the
county of Stafford, complaining that they did not receive
adequate remuneration, and praying that the House
would take some step to increase it.
Mr. P. SCROPE presented a petition from the parish
of Craig, in the Queen's County, praying for an efficient
poor-law ; and also for such measures as would enable
them to do what the inhabitants of every country on the
face of earth were enabled to do—namely, maintain
themselves by their industry on the face of their native
land.

MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
Messengers from the House of Lords brought up a
message intimating that their Lordships had agreed to
several Bills which had been sent up for their approval.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that on Tuesday next
he would ask the Secretary for the Home Department a
question as to the course the Government intended to
take with respect to the introduction of a general Bill
for the lighting, paving, and general improvement of
towns.

RATE OF WAGES ON PUBLIC WORKS IN
IRELAND.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL, seeing the Right Hon.
the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to call his
attention to a statement which he had made last week,
in answer to a question from the Honourable Member
for Limerick, respecting the rates of wages in
the west of Ireland. It appeared that the
answer of the Right Honourable Gentleman had
been misunderstood. It was stated that the Right
Hon. Gentleman had said that the wages of labourers
on public works were nearer is. 2d. than 8d a day.
The Gentlemen who wrote to him (Mr. O'Connell)
said that this was an error, as no person in Sligo, or the
neighbouring county, had ever received more than Bd.;
he udded that that could not support a family with the
prenent high rate of provisions.

Mr. LABOUCIIERE said that he would repeat to
the House what he had stated on the occasion referred
to by the Hon. Member. He said that from informa-
tion he had received from Sligo, it appeared that the
system pursued was this—that as far as possible the
principle of task work was introduced, and under that
system an able-bodied labourer would earn nearly Is. 2d.
a day. If day work was given, then only Bd. per-day was
paid ; but in the cases of families where they could not
be supported by the labour of one member of that
family, it was allowed to give labour to another person
from the same family, rather than give a higher rate of
wages than was to be had in agricultural operations.
EXPORTATION OF GRAIN FROM ENGLAND,
Mr. H. BAILLIE wished to ask a question of the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government. The Noble
Lord was perhaps aware that France and Belgium had
prohibited the exportation of corn from those countries,
and that there were now Belgian agents in this country
making large purchases ofgram. There was ageneral anti-
cipation, therefore, that in consequence of these purchases
the prices of food would advance, and a scarcity ensue.
He wished, therefore, to know whether the Government
would feel called upon to prohibit the exportation of
corn from this country?

Lord JOHN RUSSELL complained 'that the Hon.
Gentleman had asked a question on this important
subject without giving notice of his intention
of doing so. He would, however, tell him what was the
general opinion of the Government under these circum-
stances. The members of the Government were aware
that a great demand existed in France and Belgium for
grain, and that prices had risen in those
countries, but they were also of opinion that
to prohibit the exportation of corn was not the way
to cause articles of food to be brought into this
country, because they thought that the importing
merchant, if he had a security that he could bring
corn here, and be permitted to re-export it if he
thought proper to send it to other markets, would
bring it here ; but if it were at once shown that when
he did come here they refused to allew him to re-export
it, then the probability would be that he would avoid
their market. Although he had not been prepared to
meet the question of the Hon. Member, he had no hesi-
tation in saying that this would be the ruling principle
of the Government.
CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS BILL.—PRISONS