The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-09 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.) (TWOPENCE.'

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTRES.

-
POOR RELIEF.

This committee met again yesterday, Mr. Villiers
in the chair. . .

Mr. Sheriff Alibis was examined, and in reply to ques-
Sons by the thairman.he said—l am chairman of the City
of London Baird of Guardians. lam aware that our clerk,
Mr. Bowring, gave evidence at the last meeting of the com-
mittee. I am aware bow the poor were relieved from the
middle of December till the end of January last, during the
extraordinary severe weather. All applicants were relieved
without any difficulty, and there was no break down
of the machinery of the Poor-law in our district. I
believe the contributions sent in by the pub be to the swims
polies offices, to relieve the distress, amounted to about
3,0(1W. No doubt some of the persons who partook of that
relief were in our union. There was no unusual step taken
by the City of London guardians on that occasion, with a
view to extraordinary relief. The mesas we lad were
quite sufficient to sweet say claim. We were not at all
hampered by any interference of the central board. No
doubt the ratepayers were relieved by those contributions of
the public ; but I think with regard to that mode of relief,
it rather tends to pauperism than otherwise. There was at
first no inquiry made into tie character of the persons re-
lieved, but at my soggestion the Lord Mayor made
Inquiry lab all cases that tame before him. I have
known room than one case where the applicant got relief
in the City, and then went and got relief in the suburbs,
and in many eases Wiens applied for relief by a letter Ina
their landlords, who were anxious to have their rent psi& I
I imagine why the polies magistrates did not apply to the
parish authwitass was, that at first they had no idea there
would be so mach mouoy coining in. I have beard an
minion expressed that there was a harsh feeling on the
part of the parish authorities towards the poor, but not
generally.
By Lord B. Cecil—l don't think the large mesa of money
sent he the polio* magistrates involved any ociesidaratile
doubt on. the part of tbe public respect* the parish autho-
rities. If that money had been entrusted to the guardians
they would most ummeationably have distributed it with
much more discrimination than the police magistrate* as
they better knew the chernoters of the latlividuals applying
for relief. I believe many of the poor would rather starve
on 2a. 6d. a week than have their families broken up and
go into the workhouse.
By the Chairman—The relieving officer of the GSM of
London is always seeessfids, and is bound to give relief to
everyone who applies for it • if not he is liable to be
dismissedby the- Poorlaw Bca'ird. Our highest relief is
Bs. for one miliridnat. .

By Sir G. Bowyer—Some persons who applied to the
police magistrates for relief would nut apply to the pariah
authorities, because if they did they would not receive relief
from certain charities. There a another elan of persons
who think that if they applied for parish relief rt did away
with their independence. I think that is a very creditable
feeling. If a person who wee well known to be &thief applied
for relief and was destitute he would be relieved, and would
get, per 10s. or 12s.
By the C'hairmen—l do not believe that the poorlaw has
broken down in airy respect whatever. That is an erro-
neous notion, whisk bee gained ground lately.
Mr. O. Farr, clerk to the guardians of the Whitechapel
Union, was next examined. He said—There are nine
=tellln the e. We ha 27 guardians, and • min-
of amine. rave
76,721. The number of poor on our books is
generally about 3,050. We have two relieving-officers and
two arnistanta, who are accemlble to the poor at all time..
Oar workhouse is not complete, but it holds now about
1,000. We hare now 683 persons in it. During the late
severe weather we had a great increase in the number of
applicant.. The actual number above the average was 155
in the first week ; in the second week, 333 ; the third
week, 2,530 ; in the fourth week, 2,662 ; and in the fifth
week, 1,449. We found uo difficulty whatever in relieving
all that who applied for relief, and without making any
froth rate. The amount of relief which we give to au able-
bodied pauper is Is. fief. and a loaf for a week's sustenance.
A large proportion of those who applied for relief in our
mama are dock labourers and langmboremen, whew weekly
wages are about 15s. to Ilis.
By Mr. Alderman Sidney—ln my opinion the money
sent in by the public was not wisely distributed at the po-
lio. offices. The avenge coa of each peeper in our mum
is about 3.. 103. per week.
Mr. Southgate, chairman of the board of guardians of
Shoreditch, was mixt examined. He said—Onr parish is of
considerable extent, with a population of about 130,000. I
am not able to state the number of poor on our books, but
I think the number of paupers receiving outdoor relief is
at Isset 3,000. Our workhous will hold between 600 and
700, and it is nearly full now. We have 230 children at
Brentwood, During the live week, of bad weather we bad
• gloat isereeso of vampirism. A large number of our rate-
pommy
hearing som very poor.
e further evidence, the committee ad-
journed.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OP WORKS.

The usual meeting of the piutropolitart Board of
Works was held yesterday in the new offices, Spring-gar
deem Mr. J. Taverns in the chair.
The financial statement was presented, which gave the
following cash haleness in the hands of the treasurer
Current aecounta, 80,5291. Ps. ; deposit accounts, 70,0001.;
total. 150,5291. th. ; government securities, New Three
per Cent. Annuities, T2,9G91. sa. td. Cheques ordered but
not presented : lased, 2,121/. ;is. 4d. ; sot. issued, 11,2351.
15s. 11d. ; total, 13,35fi1. 19s. 3d.

THE METROPOLIS MANAGEMENT ACT AMENDMENT MILLS.
. .

The CHAIRMAN brought under the uttentiowOf the board
;he subject of the Metropolis Management Act Amendment
s, and said he thought that during the progress of
those bills through parliament there ought to be a com-
mittee to watch their progress, and if neLeasary to afford
information to the parliamentary committee to whom the
bills would be referred for consideration.
_

After a short diacussion it was agreed that the members
of the finance committee should watch the progresa of the
bills through the parliamentary committee, and report to the
booed frem time to time. . .

Mr. &Tara.tiCtlieiiiose to move the resolution of which
be had given notice, an/ said that he considered it was de-
sirable to give perishes powers to Mae sums of money for
the parpose of the Main Drainage Act. The object of his
motion WIC not to take away any rights which now existed,
bet to give them the slue rights as were enjoyed by other
perishes. lie moved :—"That the solicitors be instructed
when the bill No. 1, now promoted by this boned before par-
liament, is is committee of the House of Oreumoes, to ob-
eli& an alteration in the clause 19 of that bill, or to frame a
iseparate clause gring power to vestries in schedule A, and
district beards elided under the Metropolis Management .
Ad, aotwithatending anything enstaisd is the aid act
ease other than those where rates are collected by bow* of
trustees or governore of any perish or place chosen under
I any local act now in forte), to raise and levy the mime
which they may require for defraying the expenses of se-
' sling the mid set, and the several acts for limeades. the
send and the Mani Drainage Ad."
Mr. Lena seconded the motion.
Mr. Duce the Motion, on the ground that the
alterationsfn the clause might involve an oppoettioo,
which would result in their losing the bill.
Mr. Deputy HAMMON believed that it would be very %In-
advisable to adopt the suggestion unless there was an ac-
tual necessity for it.
Mr. Heiser considered that Mr. Carpmael hie :self had made
out a primL fade case why they should not agree to the mo-
tion, or apply the remedy. The better way would be to make
out a case for kbe board's consideration, and not put it bur
fore the slickest.

Mr. CARPIELEL replied, and the motion was pat and now,
tired by a large majority.
SMUTS FOR GAS, WATER, kr.

We. Li Burns submitted a motion, of which be had
given notice, " That the necessary steps be taken for the
insertime in the Amending Act (ho. I) of a clause empower-
lug
this board, aid the several vestries sad district
to form subways, and respiring the several gas, water, tele-
graph, and other companies to use when formed and to pay
for, such sums as may be agreed upon, or (in case of dispute)
ordered to be paid for the same, by some person or persons,
to be empowered to award the sums to be uoutributed by
the_parties respectively using the subways."
Mr. CARPMAXL seconded the motion.
Several members said they looked upon this menairre ar
more objectionable than the last, and Loped it would be
withdrawn.

La Briton declined to withdraw the motion, and it
was put and negatived by • large majority.