Star.
London, England, 1825-03-23 00:00:00

POOR LAWS.-IRELAND.

Mr. GRATTAN rose, pursuant to notice, to move
for le.we to bzing in a Bill to make a provision gene-
rally for the helpless and infirm of the parishes of Ire-
land. It was not his wish to introduce the system of
Poor Laws which existed in England ; but as the poor
of the parish in Ireland were at present maintained by
subscription funds, he wished to empower the vestry to
distribute those funds, and if they were found inade-
quate, to assess the palish for the deficiency. In the
prosecution of this object, he proposed that the vote of
the majority should bind the remainder; and he had
the less hesitation in offering the scheme to the consi-
deration of Parliament, inasmuch as it was no more
than the extension of a practice which prevailed in se-
veral parts of Ireland. The plan which he proposed
partook much of that practised in Scotland, avoiding
all the vices of the English system. His object was to
enable the parishes in behold, in case of such emergen-
cies as occurred two years and eight years ago, to act
for themselves, and afford that prompt relief which
should meet the necessity of the case, check the conta-
gion of distress, and relieve the Grand Juries from a
great part of the duties at present incumbent on them.
If, for instance; the parishes of the county of Clare,
during the last famine, had possessed the power to act
as he contemplated now enabling parishes in Ireland to
act, the spread of distress and disease would have been
prevented. The Bill which he proposed to introduce
would give greater efficiency and power of co-operation
to parochial bodies in Ireland,and greatly improve the whole system.
At present, however, he did not think himself called upon to go
at any length into the detaila of the measure, which would be mere
properly reserved for the second reading.
Mr. GOULBURN agreed in the propriety of reserv-1
ing the discussion upon the Bill for the stage of the
second reading. In that stage the House would be best
able to determine vihether any good could be culled
from the measure which the Honourable Member !Im-
posed to introduce into the Hoti•e. All that lir should
say at present was, that he would oppose any niessuiel
having for its object the intioducion -ut the English'
system of Poor Laws into Ireland.
Sir H. I'A RNELL thought that the best and safest way
would be to let things remain as they were at present
in Leland in this respect. If the system of English
spoor Laws was Ltioduced into behind, it would not

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be long before the whole rent of the country would be
swallowed up by it. • *
Mr. V.' FITZGERALD reg.rettell that his notion&
able Friend had proeoped tll. inVoduce this rweastire.i
without adequate ineestigatien oil the subject. it was
one of the most importaiitsohjectias regarded Ireland,
that ever came befoie pirlianent* He considered that
anything which tented to introduce the English system,
of Poor Laws into Leland, would tend to perpetuate
the poverty and degradation of the people.
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said,he eid not wonder
that the Honourable Member's here.litary feelings in
behalf of his country prompted him to take the view he
enterta'ned upon this subject. 13 his opinion, however,
the only evil which this country had not inflicted upon
Ireland, was the Poor Laws ; and he hoped the Irish would never
know what that system was.
Mr. BARING thought that the care of the old and
intiim, and those incapable of w-rk, night still be
beneficial to Ireland under the operation of these laws.
Mr. MAURICE FITZGERALD observed, that Go-
ver!,m2,lt expended great sump in the sha,)e of employ-
ment for the poor; but still it was necessary that their support
should be permanent.
Mr. C. WILSON hoped that the Poor Laws would
be ext-iided to Leland, because a new system of these
laws could be practised there, avoiding all the abuses which pre-
vailed in England. . . .

Mr. Alottc-it and Mr. J. Balmy supported the motion.
Mr. GRATTAN replied, and leave was given to
bring in the Bill.
Mr. Secretary CANNING brought up Papers ?els'.
five to chi Treaty of Ghent, upon a question referred to
the Enip--(q. of Russia with respect to S!aves claimed
by the United States of America. He stated. that he did not
know, before yesterday, that this treaty was not before the House.
Mr. Sill ART WORTLEY obtained leave to bring in a Bill for
the prevention of fraud in the exportation of cutlery.