§ 28. Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is now in a position to make his promised statement relating to the recent arrest of a young mother at the instance of the Samford Board of Guardians?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I have made further inquiries in regard to this case. The guardians appear to have acted upon information which, in their opinion, afforded some justification for the conclusion that Kate Tilbury intended to evade responsibility for the maintenance of her child. They, understood that she was aware that the child had been taken to the workhouse, and I am informed that they did not communicate directly with her lest she should abscond. The statements as to the regularity of payments made to the stepmother for the child's maintenance are conflicting; but, in any case, I think it very unfortunate that application for a warrant should have been made. I have, of course, no jurisdiction as to the issue of the warrant and the circumstances of the arrest. I will communicate my view to the guardians, with a suggestion that they should repay to Kate Tilbury any expenses incurred in connection with the arrest, and that I am prepared to sanction such expenditure. I will also request my inspector to confer with the guardians as to the future arrangements to be made for the care of this afflicted child.