The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-16 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON UNION.

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REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING
THE NON-SETTLED AND NON-RESIDENT
POOR
TO THL BOARD OP GUARDIANS OF TEE CITY OF
LONDON UNION.
We, your Committee to whom it was referred to con-
sider the recent Act to amend the laws relating to the
removal of the poor, 9 and 10 Viet., cap. 66, together
with the two circulars of the Poor-law Commissioners,
and the opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor-General
thereupon, having carefully considered the same, beg
leave to report—
That we are of opinion, that the board of guardians
is not generally called upon to interfere in matters of
settlement for particular parishes ; but in a case
present; which is to regulate the treatment of a large
class of paupers belonging to one and all of the parishes
of this union, your Committee think it right that the
board of guardians should state the general principle
upon which they are disposed to act, with reference to
the recent statute.
We find that in the construction of the Act there
exist the most opposite and conflicting opinions, whereby
the practice of the several unions throughout the coun-
try has assumed an inconvenient diversity, highly detri-
mental to the interest of the poor.
We find that while many of the unions and parishes
are acting with large and liberal views, there are too
many which have taken advantage of the uncertainty
of the Act, to relieve themselves from their just
burdens, and cast them upon the parishes or unions
where the poor, out of humanity, have been allowed to
reside ; in this strict view of the Act they are sup-
ported by the legal opinions of the Attorney-General,
the Solicitor-General, and other learned persons.
We are under a strong impression, however, that the
said Act was intended as a boon to the poor, and that
the Legislature, in passing it, never contemplated that
existing ascertained and acknowledged settlements should
be practically defeated, or that the relations between the
aged, infirm, and helpless poor, and their respective pa-
rishes should be annihilated.
We are of opinion, moreover, that the sudden wi.h-
drawal of relief from the non-resident poor, many of
whom are totally helpless and verging towards the grave,
would be attended with inconceivable hardship and
cruelty, by driving them to make out a new case, before
new and unknown masters, and perhaps subjecting them,
in their last years, either to a workhouse or an entirely
different system and amount of relief.
We think such a practice so manifestly unjust towards
the poor, that we strongly urge upon the board of guar-
dians the propriety of continuing their relief as hitherto,
to those non-resident poor, whose claims have been
already made out and acknowledged, until a proper
legal construction shall have been given to the said Act
of Parliament. We confine this recommendation, how-
ever, to old existing and settled claims, leaving the
several parishes of th union to take such course as they
may deem advisable with regard to new claimants.
We believe that this union has a larger number of
non-resident poor than any union iu the kingdom; and
we are aware that by acting in accordance with the
opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor-General, this
union might throw off the bunion, not only of their
poor resident in the country, but also of the great ma-
jority of their out-door poor resident in London. We
think, however, that as such a determination would be
inconsistent with those humane principles upon which,
the board of guardians of the city of London have al-
ways endeavoured to act, they ought not, unless in obe-
dience to a clear and express direction of Act of Parlia-
ment, to adopt it.
We think, that should you agree with us in our re-
commendations, notice of your intention should be im-
mediately given to those unions wherein your out door
poor are resident.
With respect to the poor of other parishes or unions
resident in this union, whose relief has been withdrawn,
we recommend that the places to which they belong
should be apprised of the principles upon which you are
resolved to act, in the hope that such relief may be re-
stored; but in case of an unsuccessful appeal to such
places, and as long as the necessity lasts, we advise a
continuance to such persons of their accustomed relief,
at the expense of this union ; being disp ,sed to recom-
mend an increase of your burdens, rather titan that any
poor and helpless fel!ow creature should be deprived of
the means of support.
All which we submit fur your consideration.
Dated this 2d of November, 1846.
T. THORNTON, Vice• Chai- JoSEPH RowNSON.
man. CHARLES SHAW.
ROBERT E. WARWICX. ROBERT LEACH.
F. W. VICERS. JOSEPH MORRIS.
JOHN CHAFFEY. ROBERT HARRILD.
At a meeting of the board of guardians, held the 10th
of November, 1846, Michael Gibbs, Esq., Alderman, in
the chair, the above report was received and adopted.
JOHN THOMAS ROWSELL, Clerk.
City of London Union office, 35, Cannon-street,
Nov. 11, 1846.