The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-27 00:00:00

the Poor.

Gentlemen,—l am directed by the Board of Poor Law Commis-
sioners for England and Wales to transmit to you a copy of the Act
of the 4th and sth William IV., cap. 76, for the Amendment and
better Administration of the Laws for the Relief of the Poor in
England and Wales, and his Majesty's Commissioners request your
immediate and careful attention to its provisions.
The attention of the Board having been particularly directed to
the operation of the 52d and 54th clauses of the Act, the Commis-
sioners feel themselves called upon to point out that the Boards of
Guardians, Select Vestries, and other district or parochial officers
acting in the administration of parochial affairs under any local Act,
and also the Churchwardens and overseers charged with the relief
of the poor in any place where there is no Board of Guardians,
Select Vestry, or other similar body constituted by any local Act,
are to continue to administer the existing laws for the relief of the
poor of the parish or place for which they act; and that, subject to
the provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act, the general
transaction of parochial business should (with strict attention to
economy, and as far as the same is duly authorized by law) be con-
tinued in the accustomed course until the rules, orders, and regu-
lations which the Commissioners are authorized to make, shall have
been duly prepared and promulgated.
In reference to the change in the law which is effected by the
54th clause, the Commissioners are desirous that the Boards of
Guardians, Select Vestries, and other similar bodies, should take
into their immediate consideration the expediency of adopting such
measures (either by establishing rotas or otherwise), as may appear
to them best adapted for securing frequent and regular attendance
for the ordering and directing of the necessary relief to the poor.
I am fur.her directed to recommend to your especial notice the
enactments with- relation to contracts for supplies of goods for the
use of the poor, and to suggest to you for the avoidance of future
inconvenience and pecuniary loss, that in case of the renewal of any
contract on behalf of your parish now about to cease, you should
cause to be inserted a clause to the following effect —" That the
said contract or agreement shall be liable to be altered or amended
in case any alteration or amendment be rendered necessary by any
rule, order, or regulation of the Poor
_Law Commissioners for
England and Wales, during the period that such contract or agree-
ment would otherwise remain in force."

I am directed also to request your attention to the clause respect-
ing the appointment of paid officers ; and to inform you that any
appointments now about to cease can only be renewed, and that
any new appointment can only be made, subject to such regula-
tions as the Central Board may hereafter provide for the more uni-
form, correct, and efficient performance of the public service by
such officers.

The Board consider it to be desirable that you should submit
this letter to a Vestry Meeting, or a Meeting of the Board of
Guardians, or such body as may be charged with the administra-
tion of relief in your parish, and state to them—
That the Commissioners are desirous of receiving from them, or
from yourselves, information of the existence in your parish of any
evils, for the removal of which it is considered that the powers in-
trusted to the Board may be rendered available. And although the
Board is exempted from the duty of interference in the cases of any
particular individuals, yet they may be properly informed of any
such cases where it is one of many similar cases, or illustrative of
a common practice.
That the Commissioners are also desirous of receiving full in-
formation of any improvement which may have been adopted in
the mode of administering relief in your parish.
And as it is highly important that the Commissioners should be
immediately acquainted with the present state of your parish, in
common with that of the other parishes throughout the country,
you are requested to prepare, as speedily as possible, answers to the
questions herewith transmitted.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your very obedient servant,
EDWIN CHADWICK, Secretary.