§ MR. J. C. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that the relieving officers of St. Olave's Union lave been giving 3s. 6d. per day, half in cash half in kind, in out-relief (nominal stone breaking) to over 60,000 persons without the inquiry by the guardians whether they were deserving cases as required by law; and what steps he proposes taking to rectify this?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI have made inquiry on this subject. Owing to the distress which prevailed in the St. Olave's Union in January last, the guardians opened a labour yard. I am informed that during the first few days the yard was open, the number of applicants was so great that the officers of the guardians were unable to make proper inquiries as to the cases; but a special meeting of the guardians was then held, and arrangements were effected whereby the usual inquiries were duly made. The yard was closed on the 28th March, the total number of persons set to work there having been, not 60,000, as stated in the question, but 3,910. The total number of days' work done was about 60,000. The subject has been fully inquired into by the Committee on the Unemployed.