The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-09 00:00:00

THE IRISH POOR-LAW.

Mr. S. CRAWFORD then rose to move for leave
to introduce a Bill to amend the " Irish Poor Relief
Extension Act," with a view to the repeal of the 10th
section called the " quarter acre clause." He said
the clause as it stood inflicted the greatest injustice
upon the poor tenant, as it crippled his industry, and
kept him constantly in the most abject state of poverty.
The provisions of his Bill might be stated in a few
words. He proposed to repeal the quarter acre clause,
and empower the guardians to give relief to such
persons as in their judgment might deserve it. The
third clause would enable the guardians to afford
relief to parties in distress by way of loan, and to take
as security for its repayment a lien upon such pro •
perty as the parties might possess. These were the
short provisions of his Bill; and without troubling
the House further, he begged to move for leave to
introduce it.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. O'FLAHERTY said he had been requested by
the Hon. Member for Limerick, who was unavoidably
absent, to second this motion, and he certainly had
great pleasure in doing so. In the present state of Ire
land it was absolutely necessary that the House should
amend the existing poor law. All the institutions
in his own district has been converted into receptacles
for starving population, and he had this morning re-
ceived a letter from a Romaa Catholic clergyman of
the neighbourhood, giving a most frightful account
of the state and condition of the poor.—(Hear, hear.)
He earnestly trusted that the Government would look
to the fearful state of things in Ireland, and endeavour
to provide some remedy for the same.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that it was with
considerable pain that he rose to oppose the introduc-
tion of. this Bill. The Honourable Member had gone
in his remarks entirely upon a wrong supposition,
he had confounded the interpretation of this quarter
acre clause, with which the landlords had carried out
the provisions of that clause. The Right Hon.
Baronet then proceeded to read extracts from
a correspondence which had taken place
between the Commissioners of the poor-law
and several persons who had applied to them on the
subject of the operation of that clause, to the effect
that the board of guardians were bound to relieve all
destitute persons without regard to their being
possessed of a quarter of an acre of land.—(Hear )
After reading the instructions of the Relief Commis-
sioners, he said he thought the House could have no
doubt that all the objections of the Hon. Gentleman
fell to the ground. He wished the House and the
Hon. Member to bear in mind that the horrible
cases of ejectment to which he had referred had not
their origin in the Poor-law. If the houses of poor
persons were entered during their temporary
absence and levelled to the ground the Poor-
law could not be blamed, as it coil
neither provide against nor furnish any
such proceedings—proceedings which he was bound
to say were of the most shocking character, and
most harrowing to the humane feelings of Hon.
Members in that House, and the community
out of doors.—(llear, hear.) He opposed the Bill
because it would give rise to hope that could not be
realised, and would accomplish more mischief than
good. He believed he should best consult
the interests of bath rich and poor by re-
sisting the introduction of the Bill.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FA GIN supported the introduction of that
Bill.

Mr. P. SCROPE also supported the introduction,
having opposed the introduction of the 10th clause in
the Irish Poor-law Bill, which it was the object of the
Hon. Member for Rochdale to repeal.
(LEFT SPELLING.)

SPIRITS.—The accounts which the House of Com-
monq has just ordered to be forthwith prepared (on mo
tion of Mr. ALA;act), will be co arranged as to :how the
total nutriblra of gallons of proof spirits distilled in
England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, distill-
guiAling the siuiint prudiai, d from malt, and from a
mixture of malt unit unmake(' grain, or from sugar;
showing. also, the total quantity of each sort in the
United Kingdom, fur the year ending the sth day of
January, 1848; also, the number of gallons of proof
spirits (distinguishing the sorts), on which duty was
paid for home consumption in each of the three kin.
doms, with the rate per gallon, and the amount of such
duty; also, the total number of gallons and duty in the
United Kingdom, for the same year. Likewise showing,
under separate heads, the number of gallons of proof
spirits (distinguishing the materials from which made),
imported into each kingdom from each of the others
respectively;
stating also the rate per gallon, and the
total amount thereof in each case, and what portion of
such duty was paid on remoral of the spirits from bond,