Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 19.djvu/493

Rh POOH LAWS 473 some instances riotous proceedings marked the opposition. It was remarked that the acts of violence were in the most pauperized districts, which had been conspicuous for the maladministration of the poor rates. The work, however, went forward, although three parliamentary committees (one of the Lords and two of the Commons) instituted a searching and severe scrutiny before the organization of the system was completed. Notwithstanding adverse cir cumstances, including stagnation of trade, cold weather, and an epidemic of great severity, by the end of 1837 nearly the whole of England had been formed into unions ; the benefits of the new system were gradually recognized, and a poor law was introduced into Ireland (see IRELAND). As to poor-law administration in Scotland see SCOTLAND. edical The reform of the poor laws affected a variety of tend- persons besides paupers and ratepayers. No question ce - was more widely discussed than that of medical attendance on the sick poor. The outdoor relief of the sick was usually effected by a contract with a surgeon, which, how ever, in general only included those who were parishioners. When non-parishioners became chargeable from illness, an order for their removal to their place of settlement was obtained, which was suspended until they could perform the journey ; in the meantime they were attended by the local surgeon, but at the expense of the parish to which they belonged. The poor-law commissioners in their report of 1834 stated that on the whole medical attend ance seemed in general to be adequately supplied and economically, considering only the price and the amount of attendance. Great good was effected by the establish ment of dispensaries promoted by Mr Smith of Southam to enable the labouring classes to defray, from their own resources, the expense of medical treatment. While stat ing that the country was much indebted to him for his exertions, the commissioners were not prepared to suggest any legislative measures for their encouragement ; but dis pensaries have been recently applied to the relief of the poor in the metropolis. The medical and surgical asso ciation (now the British Medical Association), of which Sir Charles Hastings was president, took up the sub ject, and a committee, over which Dr Davis (of Presteign) presided, made an inquiry and report, by no means in hostility to, but in full accord with, the chiefs of the new poor-law administration. The present mode of giving medical relief is noticed below. kal After an intermediate transfer in 1847 of the powers of G/ern- th e poor-law commissioners, and the constitution of a fresh Eu-cl board styled &quot;commissioners for administering the laws for relief of the poor in England,&quot; it was found expedient to concentrate in one department of the Government the supervision of the laws relating to the public health, the relief of the poor, and local government ; and this concen tration was in 1871 carried out by the establishment (by Act of Parliament 34 & 35 Viet. c. 70) of the Local Govern ment Board. In the subsequent part of this article the governing board, whether the original poor-law commissioners or commissioners for administering the laws for relief of the poor, or the present local government board, is spoken of as the central board, as the orders at present in force are of various dates, and chiefly issued before the existence of the present local government board. By numerous Acts of Parliament passed subsequent to the Amendment Act of 1834 the administration of relief has been affected in various ways. It would be an unpro fitable task, and inconsistent with the objects and limits of this article, to give a chronological summary of those Acts down to the present time, but they are taken into account in treating of various heads of poor-law adminis tration. It is to be observed that the relief of the poor of every union governed by a local Act is administered by a board of guardians elected according to the Poor-Law Acts. Although containing very important provisions, the Act of 1834 was rather to restore the scope and intention of the statute of Elizabeth by placing its administration in the hands of responsible persons chosen by the ratepayers, and themselves controlled by the orders of a central body, than to create a new system of poor laws. The agents and instruments by which the administration of relief is afforded are the following. The guardians of the poor regulate the cases and description of Guar- relief within the union ; a certain number of guardians are elected dians. from time to time by the ratepayers. The number is determined by the central board, by whom full directions as to the mode of election are given. In addition to those elected there are ex officio guardians, principally local magistrates. The guardians hold their meetings frequently, according to the exigencies of the union. Indi vidual cases are brought to their notice, most cases of resident poor by the relieving officer of the union, the case of casual paupers by him or by the workhouse officers by whom they were admitted in the first instance. The resident poor frequently appear in person before the guardians. The mode of voting which the guardians fol low in respect to any matter they differ on is minutely regulated, and all their proceedings as well as those of their officers are entered in prescribed books and forms. They have a clerk, generally a local solicitor of experience, who has a variety of responsible duties iu advising, conducting correspondence and keeping books of accounts, and carrying out the directions of the guardians, who in their turn are subject to the general or special regulations of the central board. The various officers of the union from the medical officer to work house porters, including masters and matrons of workhouses, are generally appointed by the guardians ; and the duties of all the officers are specifically prescribed by the regulations issued by the central board. Among a multitude of miscellaneous duties and powers of the guardians, apart from the ordinary duties of ordering or refusing relief in individual cases and superintending the officers of the union, the duties devolve on them of considering the adjustment of contributions to the common fund whether of divided or added parishes, and matters affecting other unions, the building of work houses and raising of money for that and other purposes, the taking of land on lease, the hiring of buildings, special provisions as to superannuation and allowances to officers, the maintenance and orders as to lunatics apart from individual instances, and the con sideration of questions of settlement and removal. A paramount obligation rests on the guardians to attend to the actual visitation of workhouses, schools, and other institutions and places in which the poor are interested, and to call attention to and report oh any irregularity or neglect of duty. Guardians may charge the rates with the expenses of attending conferences for the discussion of matters connected with their duties (Poor-Law Conferences Act, 1883). In relation to expenditure the guardians have very con siderable but restricted powers. Among other officers they ap point a treasurer for the union. Overseers of the poor are still appointed under the statute of Over- Elizabeth, and the guardians cannot interfere with the appoint- seers, ment. As, however, the relief of the poor is now administered by boards of guardians, the principal duties of overseers relate to the making and collecting of rates and payments. The guardians, by order of the central board, may appoint assistant overseers and collectors. Inspectors appointed by the central authority assist in Inspec- the execution of the poor laws by periodically visiting and inspect- tors, ing every workhouse and place wherein any poor person in receipt of relief is lodged, attending meetings of boards of guardians and every local meeting at which general questions may be raised or discussed, and taking part in meetings but not voting at them. The inspectors have great powers in calling before them and examining persons and books and proceedings. Besides the usual inspectors, persons may be appointed by the central authority to act in con ducting special inquiries. Provisions relating to expenditure and the audit of accounts are noticed in a subsequent part of this article. Some principles connected with the system of poor-law Prin- administration call for concise notice. involved As the right to relief exists, the law recognizes the jj&quot;^ l obligation to afford it to persons unable to maintain them- a dminis- selves. The refusal of the officers whose duty it is to give tration it is an indictable offence ; and, although a means of of relief - punishment does not constitute a remedy, it seems a mandamus to guardians of the poor will, in extreme and exceptional cases, be granted. The liability to summary XIX. 60