The Sun. — 1851-04-05 (London, England)

KILRUSH UNION.  Mr. SCULLY rose to ask the following questions respecting the condition of the Kilrush union:—Whether the workhouse in that union had accommodation for 4,654 inmates, or thereabouts, from the Bth of March last ? Whether there were not upwards of 5,000 within the house at that date? Whether the deaths within the house for the 21 days ending the 22d March did not exceed 200? Whether paupers to the number of between 100 and 20D were not in the habit of seeking for relief within the house upon the admission days? Whether many of such were not in a most destitute and nearly starving state, and after having walked some twelve Irish miles were refused admittance? Whether any steps were taken to afford them, so refused, any assistance whatever? Whether the Poor-law Commissioners are award of this state of things; and if so, what measures have they taken, or intend to take, in order to correct them?  Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that he could give no answer to the question of the Hon. Member, for the returns of the last five months had not been made up ; but as soon as he could get them they should be laid on the table of the House. The guardians had done everything in their power to increase the accommodation, bat they had found it very difficult to do so. The sanitary condition of the workhouse was exceedingly bad, but the Poor-law Commissioners had directed their attention to the subject with the view of inducing the guardians to find a remedy. Mr. REYNOLDS rose amidst loud cries of" Oh, oh," and "Time." When the noise had subsided, he went on to say, that when the Hon. Baronet (Sir B. Hall) was speaking on a comparatively insignificant subject a few minutes ago, the House heard him in perfect silence.—(" Oh !") In consequence of the noise in the House, scarcely any of the statements of the Right Hon. Gentlemen (Sir W. Somerville) were heard on that aide of the House. It was not his intention to address the House at any considerable length—(Repeated cries of " Oh, oh")—but he respectfully claimed the right to speak on a question which iuvelved the life and death of his fellow-countrymen and countrywomen. In Kilrush Union eighty persons were allowed to die per week for want of food, and they were indebted to the really benevolent and chariteblo clergyman of the Established Church, the Rev. Mr. Osborne, for bringing to light the cruet carnage which was permitted to go on day by day in that workhouse. What was the fact? That a workhouse which was built to accommodate 4,465 persons was now filled to suffmation, and to overflowing, there being 5 005 inmatt's within its walls; and what did the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for Ireland say? That there were 214 more persons in the building than it could hold.—(Loud laughter.) He was happy to perceive that on a grave and melancholy subject like this Hon. Gentlemen could be merry.—(oll!) Let him not be understood as meaning that Hon. Members really wished to treat lightly such a subject. He considered if these deaths were caused by the neglect of Government they were accessories to the crime of murder, and as such accouatable before God, he wished he could say before man also. In his opinion the Secretary for Ireland had too many irons iu the fire, it would be much better if he were to resign his post of Commissioner of the Poor-law Board to some man who would take coach or railroad, and have a personal inspection of the state or affairs himself. Sir LUCIUS O'BRIEN bore testimony that the facts stated by the Honourable .Member were perfectly true. The board of guardians of Kilrush were subjected to an enormous pressure each day, and as the Government advances had been stopped, the union was thrown on its own resources, which were totally unable to support the burden. Sir DE LACY EVANS expressed a hope that the Metropolitan Buildings Act would not be brought on at a late hour of the night. Sir G. GREY said it certainly would not. The motion for the adjournment of the House until Monday was then agreed to. The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. BERNAL in the chair.