§ MR. J. C. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that, owing to the frost now prevailing for some weeks 955 past, many barges on the rivers are frozen in the ice floes, and thus a great many bargemen, lightermen, and watermen, are thrown out of work, and much distress prevails along the riverside; and, whether the Government, in view of this state of affairs, will without delay supplement the Local Boards in these distressed localities with special grants of money, to meet the emergency of so many people being out of work?
§ MR. J. BRYCEI regret to say that there is no doubt that in consequence of the continued frost, many bargemen, lightermen, and watermen are thrown out of work, and that there is consequently a large increase in the number of persons applying to the Guardians for relief. The Government have no funds at its disposal out of which they could make such grants.