Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress. Appendix Volume XV. : Report to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress on endowed and voluntary charities in certain places, and the administrative relations of charity and the Poor Law. / By Mr. A.C. Kay and Mr. H.V. Toynbee.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress. Appendix Volume XV. : Report to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress on endowed and voluntary charities in certain places, and the administrative relations of charity and the Poor Law. / By Mr. A.C. Kay and Mr. H.V. Toynbee. 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.

    38/652 (page 30)
    LICHFIELD. Population (1901), 7902. Reported page 179. The city of Lichfield possesses numerous and wealthy charitable endowments for the benefit of the poor, and furnishes an instructive object lesson as to the necessity for wisely conceived and carefully executed modes of administration, if the application of the income of such endowments is not to be productive of more harm than good. Most of the recipients whose cases we investigated have resided in ihe city for lengthy periods, but we were assured by a number of persons well qualified to judge that in their opinion the Charities of Lichfield have the effect of attracting poor persons to the City, and it is evident that, as far as they have this tendency, the Charities by increasing instead of reducing the pauperism of the place, have the efiect of defeating the object for which they were established. Almshouses and Pensions. Formerly a very large sum was applied annually to the distribution of doles. In 1886, the Charity Commissioners reorganised the application of Lowe's Charity, and at a later date the Trustees of the Municipal Charities recognised that the portion of the income of those Charities which was applied in precarious gifts might be more usefully employed, and established a system of pensions. At present, as will be seen from the particulars given below, a large pro- portion of the income of the Charities is applied in the maintenance of almspeojDle and out-pensioners. Particulars regarding some of the recipients of the Almshouses and Pension Charities are given below. In some cases (see, for instance, Nos. 219 and 223), the cliaracter of the persons appointed is unsatisfactory, and the fact that during the last nine years, three of the inmates of St. John's Hospital have been dismissed for drunkenness appears to point to the need of greater care in the selection of the almsmen, In case No. 226, and several other cases which we investigated, the duty of maintaining an aged parent has been cast on the Charity by children who might well have supported the burden themselves. The Trustees do not appear to be sufficiently alive to the importance of making inquiry on this point and inducing children and other relatives to recognise their responsibilities. On the whole, however, and with but few exceptions the persons enjoying the benefits of the Almshouse and Pension Charities appear to be respect- able old people, and there can be no doubt that the Charities which are applied in this manner are productive of substantial benefit to the aged poor of the City, Almshouses. No. 214.—Widow, 71, formerly lodgiDg-house keeper, has been in Almshouse 11 years, first as tnatron, but for last seven years as ordinary inmate, her health having given way. Late husband, carter, earning 21s. weekly, died 15 years ago. One daughter, single, 30, in service, does not assist. Eoom very clean and comfortable. Weekly income 7s. from hospital. Said to be very respectable. No. 218.—Widow, 74, formerly tripe-vendor. Twice married. Four daughters, all married, one a widow, by second husband. After his death they supported ber until a year ago, when she was admitted to Almshouse. Room very clean and bright. Weekly income 4s. from Charity. Said to be a steady respectable woman. No. 219.—Widow, 74, hawker of garden stuff. Late husband market gardener. Four children, all married (one a widov/\ Eesident in almshouses nine years. Said on good authority to be a notorious beggar, given to drink and obscene language. Police have bad record against htr. Room dirty. Stated that her weekly income was only 4s. from charity, but this is contradicted by reliable persons. Has been warned by Trustees as to her course of life. No. 223.—Single man, 64, formerly baker.. Employed 16 years by one firm. Has lost an eye and suffers from scrotal hernia. Admitted to Almshouse 18 months ago. Eoom clean and comfortable. Weekly income 8s.—7s. from Charity, and Is. earned by selling pastry at railway station. Said on good authority to have earned plenty of money, a great deal of which he spent on drink. No. 224.—Widower, 65, painter. Six children, all married. Has lost sight of one eye, and broke ribs 5 years ago. Admitted to Almshouse 9 months ago. Suj_poited partially uttil then by 2 sons. Eoom very nicely kept. Oddfellows (M.U.). Weekly income 8s.—7s. frcm Hospital ar.d average casual eamings Is. Said to have been always steady and hard working No. 226.—Widower, 71, formerly haulier. 12 children, all married, and, with one exception, doing well but none assist father. Has been in Almshouse 9 months. Small savings in Post OflSce Savings Bank. NOTE.—Rejerences made in this volume and in the Reports of the Commission to the pages in this volume