§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will issue a Circular to Boards of Guardians setting forth the powers possessed by Boards of Guardians for setting the unemployed to work and paying them reasonable wages; and how far the Local Government Board will co-operate with the Guardians in meeting cases of exceptional distress caused by large bodies of men being unable to find employment in any locality? Perhaps I may be allowed to say that as the question was handed in by me, it contained another paragraph asking if the right hon. Gentleman had read a certain article dealing with the powers possessed by Boards of Guardians to find work for the unemployed; whether he agreed therewith; and whether he would issue a Circular asking Boards to put the powers into operation?
§ * MR. H. H. FOWLERThat is a matter of opinion, on which the House possibly would hardly desire to have my 1432 views. I may tell the hon. Member I am carefully investigating the whole question, which is one attended with very considerable difficulty. My present intention is to lay a case before the Law Officers of the Crown, in order that we may be accurately advised as to what is the position under the old Act of Elizabeth, and how far it is affected by the Poor Law Act of 1834. I sent the hon. Member a note, asking him to postpone the question.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI did not receive the note. When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to get the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI shall lose no time over the matter.