MR. CARTERasked the President of the Local Government Board, If his attention has been called to the case of a child, named James Johnson, of St. Germans, Norfolk, whose death is reported to have taken place in consequence of want of proper medical treatment, refused to him by the relieving 835 officer of the parish of St. Germans on the ground that his father was a member of the Labourers' Union; and, in case the report is well founded, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ MR. STANSFELD,in reply, said, that he was unable to give a decided opinion as to whether or not the report was well founded, as the evidence on the subject was not complete. He had applied to the Guardians for information. They, in their answer, said that whether the relieving officer did or did not mention the fact of the father belonging to the Labourers' Union as a reason for refusing medical relief they did not quite understand, as the relieving officer denied having said so, while at the inquest on the body of the child the mother stated the reverse. The Guardians, however, justified their officer on the principle that the father of the child was perfectly able to obtain the necessary medical attendance. Under these circumstances, he did not think a case had as yet arisen for his interference.