Report of the Poor law commissioners to the most noble the Marquis of Normanby, Her Majesty's principal secretary of state for the Home department, on the continuance of the Poor law commission, and on some further amendments of the laws relating to the relief of the poor. With appendices.
- Board of guardians
- Date:
- 1840
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Poor law commissioners to the most noble the Marquis of Normanby, Her Majesty's principal secretary of state for the Home department, on the continuance of the Poor law commission, and on some further amendments of the laws relating to the relief of the poor. With appendices. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![as their authority is in directing’ the distribution of relief, (and I con- tend that, as respects the able-bodied, it should be still greater,) it should be observed that it is almost wholly exercised in restricting, not in augmenting, relief; in fact, the public outcry is constantly directed against their supposed inconsiderate harshness. Were the public a little more long-sighted, it would see that every motive, save the single one of a strong sense ot duty, impels a public Board like the Commis- sioners in a course precisely contrary to that which is made the subject ot such constant attack. Their interests lead them to yield to applica- tions for relaxation from their rules, their refusal to do which causes such violent declamations, as they could only be induced to incur bv a rigid sense of public duty. The popular jealousy is unreasonably directed against such refusals, that is, against conduct which indicates a sacrifice of interest to duty, whereas it ought in reason to be on the alert, lest their duty be sacrificed to their interest. To illustrate this by an instance : A Board of Guardians sends up to the Commissioners a case in which they desire to break through the rule that prohibits out-rehei to able-bodied. It is, perhaps, referred to me for an opinion, who of couse am in the same position as respects motives as the Com- missioners. I know possibly that there is no good ground for the application, and that to grant it would break through a principle, the observance of which is of the utmost importance to the present and future welfare of the labourers, and yet a superficial plausibility may always be alleged in its favour, and acquiescence is sure to be popular. If then, under the sense of duty, the application be disallowed, I have to endure perhaps abuse in the newspapers, insults from individual guardians, and every description of unpleasantness. If it is allowed, 1 escape all these disagreeable consequences, the public applaud the so- called humanity, the discretion is said to be properly exercised, and mv business proceeds calmly and quietly along, though a serious blow may be struck at the real interests of the labourers. But that I do not feel, the expense that may be incurred affects not me; and it may be years before the benefit of a contrary course is so fully developed as to beat down opposition, and bring the popular voice on the side of truth and reason. The fear in committing such extensive powers to the Poor Law Commissioners should not be lest they should use them improperly, but lest they should not use them at all; lest they should not interpo-e in the attempts that are continually made to break through the correct principles of Poor Law Administration, and thus slide popular dissatisfaction by consulting their personal ease. Jt appears to me to be in the nature of a Poor Law, that its worst abuses should be popular, and in a district such as this [Kent and Sussex], where they had taken so deep a root, no restraining power should be’ refused that can tend to repress their growth, as none is so little capable of being misused by active exercise.” It is true that measures of the Commissioners for diminishinor the burdens of the rate-payer, and for restoring the natural re la” t ions of the employer and labourer have been generally approved of by reflecting persons; and that, by their support in the Boards of Guardians, the law has been carried into effect. Nevertheless, the Commissioners have scarcely ever been so loudly blamed as c](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29291148_0031.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
