Report from the Select Committee on Aged Deserving Poor ; together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Aged Poor
Date:
1899
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on Aged Deserving Poor ; together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    12 June 1899.] Mr. Davy. SfiontinueA. Mr. Llewellyn. 1211. Do you know whether it is paid weekly or monthly?—I know it is paid monthly. 1211*. Perhaps if you could ascertain you would kindly do so, whether the pensioner has to attend at a particular office to receive the pension personally ? Chairman.'] I think, Mr. Davy, I am justified in saying, on behalf of the Committee, we are very greatly obliged to you for your evidence, and that we think, considering the short time you have had at your disposal and the difficulty j'ou must have had in acquiring the information, what you have told the Committee has been extremely valuable. Answer to Questions 1210 and 1211 : The old age pensions in the country districts and provincial towns are paid by the same authorities as pay the poor relief. The pensioners have, in ordinary cases, to appear and receive it themselves. In Copenhagen, however, a special arrangement has been made with a savings bank, called the Beehive (Bikuben), so that the pensioners get their pensions there on producing a certificate, whereas people in receipt of poor relief have to come to the municipal offices. Pensions are paid in advance, generally monthly, but in some cases weekly. Some authorities had begun to pay quarterly, but this was stopped by the Minister of the Interior, who only gives permission to make quarterly payments in exceptional cases.—J.S.D. Mr. Frederick John Mtjnro, called in; and Examined. Chamnan. 1212. You are clerk, I understand, to the Trustees of the Wells and Camden Charity at Hampstead, and you hav3 been in that position for nearly 20 years?—Yes. 1212*. You have resided still longer in that locality ?—I have. 1213. And taken a great personal interest in the administration of the charity ?—Yes. 1214. That charity, I believe, is governed by the scheme of the Commissioners, which dates from 1880, and has been varied in some respects since then, in 1885, 1893, and 1897. is that so? —Yes, that is so. 1215. We have been favoured by the Charity Commissioners with two typical schemes in which pensions are given to old people; they contain two clauses which respectively prescribe the conditions, and also the disqualifications for the receipt of the pension; there are clauses for a similar purpose in your scheme, are there not ? —Yes, there are. 1216. The Commissioners draw up the schemes and the clauses, and are responsible entirely for the provisions of the schemes ?—They are. 1217. And after the schemes are made they are administered by the trustees, and the respon- sibility for administration rests entirely, I believe, with them ?—That is so. 1218. It is with regard to some points con- nected with the administration that the Com- mittee were anxious to have further information than Sir Henry Longley was able to give them. I observe that under Section 14 of your scheme the trustees have power to appoint a committee for any purpose which in their opinion can be better performed by a committee; has that power been exercised ?—It has. 1219. You have such a committee appointed now?—We have a Standing Pensioii Committee consisting of about 12 members. 1220. For the purpose, of awarding these pensions?—Not for the purpose of awarding them, but for the purpose of investigation, and then it comes up to the trustees—their recom- mendation. 1221. Of these 12 members some are ex officio and some are elected, I understand ?—That is so. 1222. How many aire ex officio?—There are four ex officio. C hairman—c onitinued. 1223. And eight elected ?—And 16 elected; 20 altogether. 1224. But I thought you said on this com- mittee there are 12. 1225. Four members of the committee are ex officio ?—No, there are, I think, two ex officio on that committee and the rest are non-official. 1226. They are elected ?—Yes. 1227. Are they elected by the trustees ?—Yes, they are nominated by the trustees. 1228. Who are the ex officio members?—The ex officio members are the vicar of the parish and the chairman of the board of gniardians. 1229. With regard to the nominated members, do they live in as a rule and are they acquainted with the circumstances of the locality?—Oh, yes. 1230. All of them ?—Yes, all of them. 1231. This committee administers the scheme and they recommend the pensioners for appoint- ment?—On this particular part of the scheme, yes. 1232. But the appointment as a pensioner must be confirmed by the trustees ?—That rests, with the trustees themselves. 1233. Under Section 5 I see that in order to qualify for a pension there are six conditions under your scheme with which the applicant must comply; first, he must be poor; secondly, of good character; thirdly, resident for the six preceding years; fourthly, he must not have received during those years poor relief; fifthly, he must produce evidence of provident habits; and sixthly, either from age, ill-health, accident, or infirmity, he must be unable to maintain himself by his own exertions. Now I want you to explain to the Committee how the inquiry into all these different conditions is conducted; and first of all I want to ask you, to whom is the application made for a pension?—The applica- tion is made to the trustees. 1234. Personally, or in writing ?—In writing. 1235'. According to the mode or terms you prescribe ?—Yes ; each applicant has to fill up a form in which they have to reply to a series of about 10 questions. 1236. Will you hand that form of questions in to the Committee ?—Oh, yes. 1237. When the application or applications are made the committee satisfy themselves if the-
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