Minutes of evidence.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Andover Union
Date:
[1846]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Minutes of evidence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/1416 (page 4)
    Mr H. Mundy. 24 April 1846. 65. Does he put each case to the Board for their decision separately ?—Very seldom ; in some cases he may do so. 66. Where is the relieving officer during the time?—He stands close to the chairman. 67. Did you ever make any motion to the Board on that point ?—I asked the guardians whether they could hear any of the cases, and they said they could not; and I made a proposition that the relieving officer should stand at the bottom of the table and read the cases, instead of their being read by the chairman, that the guardians might have an opportunity of hearing the cases. 68. Did you carry that proposition ?—I did. 69. Does the relieving officer still continue to stand at the bottom of the table ?—No; he staid there three or four weeks. I omitted to attend the Board one week, and the Saturday following I found him by the side of the chairman again. 70. Upon finding him at his old place, what did you do ?—Instead of sit¬ ting at the table, I stood by the side of the chairman that I might hear the cases. 71. Does the relieving officer make any remarks upon the different cases which he brings forward ?—Frequently. 72. Aloud, for the hearing of the Board generally?—No; it is seldom he could be heard ; if he could have been I should not have proposed his coming to the foot of the table. 73. Do you ever ask him to repeat remarks ?—Frequently. 74. What is the tendency of them ?—They are generally injurious to the poor rather than otherwise, pointing out reasons why they should not have relief. I have often asked whether it was of his own knowledge he was speak¬ ing, and he has said, no; that he had heard as much; but the chairman is ge¬ nerally guided by anything he may have said. 75. Do you allude to any particular relieving officer ?—Yes ; to the relieving officer for the Andover district. The other relieving officers do not do so. 76. What is the name of the relieving officer for the Andover district ?— Mr. Cooke. 77. Is he particularly inquisitive as to private charity to the sick?—Yes. 78. When he reported that the sick had received any meat, or broth, or any¬ thing in private charity, was there an alteration immediately made in their allowance ?—Yes. 79. Has great inconvenience been felt in Andover by the want of a resident relieving officer ?—Yes. 80. A memorial has been sent to the Poor Law Commissioners on that sub¬ ject, I believe ?—Yes. 81. Has it been proposed at the Board that Cooke should reside in Andover ? —It has. 82. Was it rejected?—Yes. 83. Was there any motive assigned for his not residing in Andover ?—The chairman has always pointed out to the guardians, before they' voted on the subject, that if it was decided that the relieving officer should reside in Andover, they would lose their relieving officer Cooke. 84. Did he object to reside in Andover ?—He did. The chairman stated that he had built a new house two or three years since at Clanville, and did not wish to leave it. 85. How many relieving officers are there in the whole union ?—Four. 86. Do you know the amount of the population in each of their districts ?— I do not know that I do. 87. How far does Cooke reside from Andover ?—Between four and five miles. 88. There has been an alteration relative to the relieving officers now, has there not?—Yes; it took place the 25th of March last. 89. Is there a resident relieving officer in Andover now ? -—Yes. 90. Did Cooke reside within the district for which he acted?—Yes. 91. How far from the town ?—Nearly five miles. 92. Great inconvenience was felt by the poor, and particularly the sick, was not there, in consequence of that ?—Yes. 93. Was there any particular case you recollect of that kind?—There were a great