Index to the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Poor Law Relief.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Select Committee on Poor Law Relief.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Index to the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Poor Law Relief. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    Report, 1888—continued. Billing, The Reverend Prebendary. (Analysis of his Evidence) : Is Prebendary of St. Paul's, Rector of Spitalfields, and an elected Poor Law guardian; was formerly Vicar of Holy Trinity, Barnsbury, 23^8-2401. Poor Law ; its Province : Considers it the iDrovlnce of the Poor Law to relieve destitution, encourage provi- dence, and uphold parents' responsibility. Out-Door Relief: Objects to any general system of out-door relief, 2402, 2403. Want of Uniformitij : Considers the want of uniformity in the different unions to be one of the greatest hinderances to successful administration of the Poor Law, 2412 Suggests that power should be given to the Local Government Board by statute to enforce uni- formity, especially in the Metropolitan area, 2413 Instances the want of it, by comparing the lavish granting of out-door relief in Poplar, with the extreme care in the granting of it in Whitechapel, 2514 Advocates an immediate investigation by the Local Government Boai-d where there are more recipients of out-door relief than inmates in a workhouse, and that they should, in those cases, override the guardians' authority and prevent it, 2515, 2516. Unemployed: States that distress last winter was about same as previous one ; that there has been improvement in work, but no great difference in labour market, owing to immigration of foreigners, and immigration from country, 2404 That there are many always unemployed in wintei', w-ho earn sufficient during other mouths to keep them all the year, ib. Has been sitting on Lord Mayor's Committee to prevent those who have been temnorarily employed by Public Gardens Association from being again unemployed next year; states that these men, if provident, would not have needed such relief work, 2405, 2406. Attributes present distress to (1) foreign and provincial immigration, (2) improvidence, and (3) improvident marriages, 2407 Approves of work being provided for unem- ployed such as that offered by Open Spaces Association, provided greatest care taken, and that it results in putting men selected, in a position to earn their livlihood after- wards, 2511 Admits there is a danger of discouraging providence by such a system, but that might be prevented by careful selection, 2512, 2513. Considers early marriages a great evil; that if they were prohibited it would not lead to increased population from immorality, but would tend to check it, 2463 Denies there is a large number ot illegitimate births in London, 2458 2461 Acknow- ledges that early marriages are promoted by prevalent feeling among poor that a man must marry girl whom he has got in family-way, 2462-2464. Poor Law and Charities : States Poor Law is adequate to meet existing distress if connected with charities ; favours any reform which would atta,in that object, 2408. Describes systematic co-operation in Whitechapel; e.g., action of the Tower Hamlets Pension Committee ; Charity Organisation Society, and Society for Relief of Distress; that guardians' object is to depauperise any one who comes under Poor Law, and give him a chance of earning a living for himself; that they are most anxious to co-operate with outside agencies, 2409, 2410. Charities dispensed in his union are derived from sources outside ; there are very few wealthy people there ; rates not much relieved by private charity; system by which the Poor Law only relieves destitution, the rest being left to outside charity, is effec- tive in abolishing out-door relief, which, if given, should be given adequately, 2433- 2436 Improvidence among working classes is assisted by fact that charity and Poor Law save them from misfortune attending it, and concludes that were these to be abolished, they would be more provident, 2455-2457. Lalwur Yard: States labour yard has not been opened in Whitechapel for seventeen or eighteen years ; it never attracted really deserving poor, 2411. (70—Injd.) 4z4 Workhouse: