§ 27. Mr. CREANasked whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the case of a man named John Kelly, a pauper in receipt of outdoor relief of the value of 6s. a week from the Bandon Board of Guardians, who was able to pay 50s. for a pony distrained for refusal to pay contributions under the Insurance Act; whether this man states that he was commissioned to act as emergency man on the occasion, but declines to say by whom he was sup- 1825 plied with money; and whether the Local Government Board will order an inquiry into the whole transaction and the discontinuance of the outdoor relief?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Local Government Board have made inquiry from the clerk of the union and find the relief to Kelly and his family, 6s. a week, was continued up to the 15th instant, when it was struck off by the guardians on the report of the relieving officer that Kelly had purchased a pony some days before for which he paid £2 10s., and afterwards sold it at a considerable profit. When Kelly was before the guardians on the 15th instant he informed them that he acted in the matter only as agent for another person, whose name he refused to give, and he also refused to state what profit he made on the resale of the pony. There does not appear to be any necessity for further inquiry.
§ Mr. CREANCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it was possible for a man to purchase from another and yet not purchase for himself?
§ Mr. RUSSELLBut did he purchase for himself?
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the Local Government Board at all events do not mean to insist upon the ratepayers paying outdoor relief for a Treasury emergency man forcing this Act upon the country?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThis was the act of the local guardians.
§ Mr. O'BRIENWhat I want to know is whether the Local Government Board intend to interfere with the action of the guardians?
§ Mr. RUSSELLNo, they do not.