§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the circumstances attending the removal of Elijah Warne, aged 90, and Ann Warne, his wife, aged 85, from Worlingworth, in the Hoxne Union, to the workhouse at Eye, a distance of seven miles, on a cold day, in an open tumbril, the journey occupying three hours; whether he is aware that both Elijah Warne and his wife have since then died, and that at the coroner's inquest held on the 11th instant the jury accompanied their verdict on the death of the man with a rider to the effect that the relieving officer was decidedly to blame for removing the deceased without any authority from the doctor that day, and that removal in an open tumbril was not a proper way to remove an old man a distance of seven miles, and that they thought an attendant ought to accompany a pauper under such circumstances; whether he is aware that on the 18th instant, at the inquest held on the body of the woman, the jury added to their verdict a rider that they wished to record their indignation at the great carelessness and lack of judgment shown by the relieving officer; also their opinion that the Hoxne Board of Guardians should issue such instructions to their officials as would prevent such a scandal; whether any Poor Law Orders are in force dealing with the subject of removals; and whether, pending the reform of the Boards of Guardians themselves, the Local Government Board will issue such instructions as will lead the Boards of Guardians to prevent such practices?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER,) Derby, IlkestonThe Local Government Board have received a copy of the depositions taken by the coroner at the inquest in the cases referred to, and thu facts appear to be as stated in the question. At present, it appears to the Board that the arrangements as regards the removal were most unsatisfactory, and they have requested the Guardians to call upon the relieving officer to furnish an explanation in writing of his conduct in the matter, and forward this to the Board, together with their observations, after their meeting on Monday next. The Board will then consider whether it is advisable that an official inquiry should be held into all the circumstances of the case. The Board have not laid down any Rules as to the mode in which the removal of persons to the workhouse should be carried out. They hold that the relieving officer is strictly responsible for making proper arrangements as regards conveyance, attendance, and otherwise when a person is removed to the workhouse under his directions, and if there is any question as to the fitness of the person to be removed he should obtain a certificate of the medical officer. Looking to the various circumstances in different cases, as to distance, physical condition of the person, and the state of the weather, it does not seem practicable for the Board to lay down specific Rules applicable to all cases.