§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether only Guardians who are on the Visiting Committee are permitted to visit the poorhouse of their Union; whether this Regulation is in accordance with an Order of the Local Government Board; and, if so, for what object such Order was made; whether the Regulation has led to ineffective control and supervision of workhouses by the Guardians, and whether, in consequence thereof, many complaints have been made; and whether he will consider the desirability of rescinding or modifying such Regulation?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Regulations of the Local Government Board require the Guardians to appoint one or more Visiting Committees from their own Body. The Board consider that Guardians who are not members of the Visiting Committee cannot claim as a right to visit the workhouse. The Regulations which the Board have issued contain no provision to this effect; but it appears to the Board to be the result of the statutory provision in the 4 & 5 Will. IV. c. 76, s. 38. It is to be observed, however, that the Board of Guardians may grant permission to visit the workhouse, if they think fit, to any Guardian or Guardians who are not members of the Visiting Committee. The fact that every member of a Board of Guardians has not the right to visit the workhouse at any time he may think fit has not, in my opinion, led to ineffective control and supervision of workhouses by the Guardians; nor 554 am I aware that many complaints have been made on the subject. I should not be prepared to interfere with the discretion of the Guardians in this matter.