§ MR. KAVANAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Anne Spinks, who for 26 years was matron of the Cavan Workhouse, and who was forced to resign the office from failing health, and who, since her resignation, having been refused any superannuation by the guardians of the union, has been an inmate of the house as a pauper; and, whether there is no power in the hands of the Local Government Board to meet circumstances of such hardship?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERYes, Sir, my attention has been called to this case, and I find the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend. On the report of their Inspector, the Local Government Board, in June, 1876, suggested to the Guardians that this was a fitting case for resignation and superannuation. The Guardians, however, accepted the resignation, but declined to grant any pension. In January, 1877, Mrs, Spinks became a 1947 pauper inmate of the workhouse, and the Local Government Board requested the Guardians to re-consider their previous decision. This they declined to do. Subsequently, on the 5th of the present month, a Guardian proposed that an allowance of £16 per annum be granted. This proposal, however, was negatived upon a division by the Board. I am sorry to say that the Government have no means of redressing this undoubted hardship, as the powers of the Local Government Board are confined by statute to signifying their assent or dissent, when an allowance has been voted by a Board of Guardians, and they possess no power of initiating such a proposal.