74 
of existing agencies and the transference of the work of 
relief to a complicated, untried, and, as I venture to think, 
unworkable system of machinery, with manifold and 
inherent dangers. 
' ‘ A proposal to sweep away all directly elected representa- 
tion in this great field of local government is so contrary 
to the national instinct and to our established principles, 
and so fraught with contingent dangers, as to demand the 
most rigid proof of its necessity. 
I have studied the list of defects on which the sweeping 
changes advocated in the Majority Report are based. 
My experience convinces me that there is not one which 
could not be met, and I venture to say, better met, by a 
revision, a strengthening, and an extension of existing 
powers on lines already established. 
1 fully agree that the provision of public relief made by 
the Poor-law should be such as may be offered without 
loss of self-respect to the well conducted man who is obliged 
to resort to it. To every man should be given a chance 
in the first instance, and a possibility of hope even in the 
last resort. It needs no great enlargement of present 
powers Vto (secure this, and to extend the arrangements 
whereby a decent home shall not be broken up in time 
of depression. 
“ I regret that the financial considerations of public relief 
generally have not been more fully dealt with by the 
Commission, and especially so, because the proposals of 
either Report must, in my judgment, inevitably involve 
an immediate but uncalculated outlay of public money.” 
