§ MR. P. A. TAYLORsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Poor Law Board, Whether his attention has not been drawn to the custom of the Guardians of the Narberth Union of sending vagrants who are committed to prison for destroying their clothes, in all weathers, and for many miles, dressed in a thin sack, with the bottom cut off; whether it is a fact that, on the complaint of the committing magistrate, the practice was censured by the Poor Law Board; whether such practice has been discontinued; and, whether he will lay the Correspondence upon the Table?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid, in reply, that the attention of the Poor Law Board had been drawn to the practice alluded to in the Question of the hon. Member, and the facts stated were mainly correct. A letter had been written by the Board, drawing the attention of the guardians to the fact of vagrants having to walk long distances of twenty to thirty miles in going to prison, with insufficient protection from the inclemency of the weather, and requiring the guardians to discontinue the practice of clothing the paupers in sacks, which did not provide clothing to cover their limbs. No complaints had reached the Board since then, and he presumed the practice had been discontinued; but directions had been given to the inspector to keep Ms eye on the practice.