§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE(for Mr. T. HUGHES) asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the Eastern Counties boards of guardians have refused medical relief to the wives and families of labourers on the ground that such labourers had become members of the Labourers' Union; and, whether such refusal is not contrary to the well understood principles of the Poor Law; and, if so, whether he will take steps, by minute or otherwise, to instruct boards of guardians as to the principles upon which such relief ought to be administered?
§ MR. STANSFELD,in reply, said, that it was not within the knowledge of the Local Government Board that relief had been refused to any persons on the ground of their being members of Labourers' Unions. Such a proceeding would be contrary to the principles of the Poor Law, which laid down destitution as the only test and ground for the receipt of relief. There were no doubt certain rules and regulations under which the guardians administered the law throughout the country; but they were so well understood that the Board saw no necessity for issuing any fresh instructions.