§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether representations from several boards of guardians have been made to the Local Government Board as to the necessity, from motives of humanity, of extending Poor Law relief to occupants of labourers' cottages in some special cases; and, if so, will he say why it cannot be done?
§ Mr. BIRRELLRepresentations on this subject have been made to the Local Government Board from time to time. Section 2 of the Act 25 and 26 Vic., cap. 83, lays down that any person who shall be in occupation of any land of greater extent than a quarter of a Statute acre and who shall be considered by the board of1168W guardians to require relief, shall be relieved by them in the workhouse and not otherwise. The Board have held that this prohibition applies only to the occupier himself, and that if his wife or any member of his family is permanently disabled from labour by reason of old age infirmity or bodily or mental defects, or disabled from labour by reason of severe sickness or serious accident, the guardians can, under Section 1 of the Act 10 Vic, cap. 31, relieve such person being destitute, either in or out of the workhouse.