§ MR. KEKEWICHsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether his attention has been called to the great increase of applications for relief by the casual poor, especially in the Southern Districts; and whether he proposes to issue any instructions to the Boards of Guardians on the subject, or whether he thinks it desirable that all vagrants making application for relief should have their names entered in a register by the Police?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSreplied, that his attention had been drawn to the applications for relief by the casual poor, but not to a great increase in their number, for that had not occurred. With respect to the southern districts, to which the hon. Member especially referred, they were usually classed as south-western and southeastern, each division containing five counties, and being the subject of a separate Report. In the south-eastern division the number of vagrants relieved on the 1st July, 1863, was 286, and on the 1st of January, 1864, 214; and in the southwestern 128 on the 1st of July, and 136 on the 1st of January. There was, therefore, a diminution in the first case, and in the other an increase of only eight. He did not propose to issue any instructions; but he had, during the winter, called the attention of the guardians in the metropolis to the subject, and had directed the Inspectors to do the same throughout the country. He had been induced to do so very much in. consequence of the very satisfactory statement on the matter in Major General Cartwright's Report. The gallant officer said—
Relief to vagrants has each year been reported upon, and, deeply impressed with the great advantage of placing this duty in the hands of the police, I venture again to bring it before the public. The appointment of trustworthy police officers to administer the tickets to the applicants for vagrant relief has been largely extended during the year, and as it becomes more universal it proves itself to be more beneficial … As far as practice informs me, nothing can be acting better than this system, both to the destitute wayfarer or the public; the former when in distress and want of relief immediately obtains it, the latter are protected by proper examination from the imposition of the professional mendicant.The policemen were employed in about ninety unions at present as relieving officers; and he had directed the attention of the guardians to the importance of adopting the practice generally. As to the last 16 part of the hon. Member's question, the Police, when employed as relieving officers, were already in the habit of entering on the register the names of vagrants who applied to them.