PATirEKISM. 



79 



PAUPERISM. 



ABSTRACT OF MR. A. P. PROWSE'S PAPER. 



The lecturer commenced by referring to the great importance of 

 the subject. It had, perhaps more than any other, forced itself at 

 different times on the consideration of the Legislature of the 

 country, and was at the present time engaging the attention of the 

 most eminent men. He gave a brief sketch of the laws relating 

 to the poor from the earliest times, and of this country from a.d. 

 924 to the Poor Law Amendment Act of lb34-5. That act was 

 founded upon a principle laid down by commissioners who had 

 been specially appointed to inquire into the subject; that principle 

 being that every man had a right to relief. The adoption of this 

 principle left no room for the exercise of discretion in the adminis- 

 tration of relief. The lecturer condemned this principle. 



The workhouse ^'tcst" was examined, and was pronounced to be 

 harsh towards the poor, and ineffective for the object the Legisla- 

 ture intended. 



The Poor Law system had signally failed in saving the rates or 

 diminishing pauperism, which had increased in a greater ratio than 

 the population. 



The method of administering relief by boards of guardians 

 through their relieving officers was unequal, inadequate, and 

 unsatisfactory, with no single recommendation for its continuance. 



Some statistics were then given to support the view^s which had 

 been advanced, and the lecturer concluded by endorsing suggestions 

 by Dr. Stallard and other authorities in reference to the appointment 

 of a competent person, with special qualifications and authority, 

 subject to the Central Board in London, to grant or refuse relief, 

 and regulate expenditure within a given district. 



The functionary to place himself in communication with local 

 committees and their officers, who should, chiefly through voluntary 

 agency, visit every house, know and relieve every case of destitu- 



