§ MR. BRAND (Cambridge, Wisbech)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, owing to a want of agreement between the Wisbech (Cambridgeshire) and the Holbeach (Lincolnshire) Boards of Guardians as to the settlement of a widow pauper named Ramsdale, aged 85, who removed from Newton in Cambridgeshire to Wingland in Lincolnshire, the widow's outdoor relief was stopped for 13 weeks; and whether the Local Government Board will issue an Order to the Wisbech Board of Guardians to pay the 13 weeks' arrears?
SIR W. FOSTERI understand that Mary Ann Ramsdale, who was 85 years of age, whilst receiving relief from the Wisbech Union went to reside in the Holbeach Union. The Guardians of the Wisbech Union then asked the Guardians of the Holbeach Union to continue to pay on their behalf the 5s. 6d. per week which Ramsdale had previously been receiving, but as it appeared that the place where she had gone to live was a considerable distance from the residence of the medical officer, and any attendance by him in the case would have involved a long and special journey, and the payment of a bridge toll of 1s., the Holbeach Guardians were unwilling to undertake the payment of the relief unless the Wisbech Guardians would agree to pay any expense in respect of the medical officer and any other expenses incurred by them. This the Wisbech Guardians would not agree to, and they gave an order for the admission of the woman into the workhouse. The order was not accepted, but she has since returned to the Wisbech Union, and is in receipt of the allowance of relief which she formerly received. I have no information as to how Ramsdale was maintained during the 13 weeks referred to, and the Local Government Board have no authority to make any Order for the payment suggested.