MR. J. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Rotherham Board of Guardians only pay men engaged on relief works 7d. per day, with 2d. per day for wife and 2d. for each child, and have stated that they have no legal powers to pay a higher scale of relief wages; and whether he will inform them as to what their powers are?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI have received a communication on this matter from the Rotherham Guardians. Their clerk informs me that they are fully aware that there is no scale of payment for relief work laid down by the Local Government Board. The only rule laid down by the Board is that at least one-half of the relief shall be given in kind, such as food and other articles of necessity. Beyond this the Board have never interfered with the discretion of the Guardians.