allowance on the ground of age, unless he has completed the full age of sixty years, and has served as an officer of some union or parish for twenty years at least.*

To a medical officer, the guardians may, with the assent of the Local Government board, grant a superannuation allowance, notwithstanding that he has not devoted his whole time to the union or parish; and if any officer seek a superannuation allowance from a board of guardians or from the overseers of a parish, service by him as a registrar of marriages, or under any of the provisions of the Sanitary Acts as defined by the Public Health Act of 1875 will not (39 & 40 Vict. c. 61, s. 17) operate to prevent his obtaining the

same.

CHAPTER XXXII.

OF THE RELIEF OF THE POOR.

THE destitute poor are relieved at the expense of and in the union where they are settled, or from which they are irremovable.+ The funds necessary for the purpose are furnished by the overseers of the several parishes, who provide, by laying rates, the sums required for the purpose by the board of guardians of the union, or by the select vestry in cases where the administration of the poor law is vested in such a body by any local act. The cost of relief is now

* See on the subject of the superannuation of officers the 27 & 28 Vict. c. 421, the 29 & 30 Vict. c. 113, the 30 & 31 Vict. c. 106, and the 33 & 34 Vict. c. 94.

As to Settlement and Iremovability, see Chapter XXXIV post.

charged upon what is called the "common fund" of the union, i.e. a fund to which each parish of the union contributes in proportion to its assessment. Out of the same fund is also defrayed the cost of the relief given to any poor person becoming chargeable to a union, being a destitute wayfarer or wanderer or foundling, as well as the cost of burial of such person dying within the union.

The administration of the relief is under the direction of the board of guardians of the union, or of the select vestry (when such a body exists), but it must take place subject to and in accordance with any rules and regulations which the Local Government board may issue upon the subject. There are, indeed, certain special cases in which relief may be given or ordered by the overseers and justices of the peace, which will be found noticed in the chapters devoted to these officers. The Local Government board have issued orders to many nnions and parishes for the establishment of relief committees. The guardians may form committees from their own body, assigning to each such committee the superintendence over the whole or any portion of the district allotted to one of the reliev ing officers of the union. When such committees are appointed it is their duty to hear and decide upon all applications for relief from the district committed to their charge.

While all destitute paupers are entitled to relief, it

Tuis extends to a destitute child under the age of twelve, who is deserted by both parents, or by its surviving parent, and who is not in the care or custody of some relative, guardian, or friend, and whose settlement is not known.

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has been enacted by the 12 & 13 Vict. c. 103, s. 16 (in order to provide against persons improperly becoming chargeable), that when a pauper has in his possession or belonging to him any money or valuable security, the guardians of the union or parish within which he is chargeable may take and appropriate so much of such money or the produce of such security, or recover the same as a debt before any local court, as will reimburse them for the amount expended by them, whether on behalf of the common fund or of any parish, in the relief of such pauper during twelve months prior to such taking and appropriation, or proceeding for the recovery thereof (as the case may be); and in the event of the death of any pauper having in his possession or belonging to him any money or property, the guardians of the union or parish wherein he dies may reimburse themselves the expenses incurred by them in and about the burial of such pauper and his maintenance at any time during the twelve months previous to his decease. And by the 39 & 40 Vict. c. 61, s. 23, if a pauper is entitled to any annuity or periodical payment the trustee or other person bound to make such payment may from time to time pay to the board of guardians the cost of relief given to the pauper. And when guardians incur any expenses in the relief of a pauper lunatic being a member of a benefit or friendly society, and as such entitled to receive any payment, they may recover from him or his executors, administrators, or assigns, in case of his death, the sum so expended, and the managing body of such society, after notice from the club to the board of guardians, served previously to

the money being paid over, is required to pay the same to the said guardians, and is exonerated on payment thereof from any further liability. If a trustee, manager, or other person declines to make any payment the justices in petty sessions, if satisfied that it is right under all the circumstances to do so, may make an order upon him to pay the amounts then due to the guardians at once, and to pay from time to time in future as the liability in respect of the relief occurs. This clause is not, however, to take effect unless the guardians or their relieving officer have declared the relief to be given on loan, nor in respect of any relief granted contrary to the rules and orders made under the authority of the statutes in that behalf. And by the 42 Vict. c. 12, s. 4, the provision we have just quoted with reference to friendly societies is not to apply to any moneys which a pauper or pauper lunatic, having a wife or other relative dependent upon him for maintenance, may be entitled to receive as a member of a friendly or benefit society; and even when a pauper or pauper lunatic has no wife or relative dependent upon him the guardians are not to claim the cost of his relief from any benefit or friendly society of which he is a member, unless they not only declare the relief to be given on loan, but within thirty days thereof notify the same in writing to the secretary or trustees of the society or branch of which the pauper is a member.

The leading division of persons requiring relief is into -impotent and able-bodied poor. The impotent poor are such as, from age or physical disability, are unable to work; the able-bodied are such as are not subject to

such incapacity. The former may be relieved by the guardians, at their discretion, either in the workhouse or by out-door relief.

The relief of the able-bodied poor is regulated minutely by the orders of the Poor Law board, from which, however, the overseers or guardians may, in cases of emergency, depart, with the approval of the commissioners. The following is the the order (dated December 21, 1844) with respect to the relief of such persons in unions which have provided adequate workhouse accommodation.

Art. I. Every able-bodied person, male or female, requiring relief from any parish within any of the said unions shall be relieved wholly in the workhouse of the said union, together with such of the family of every such able-bodied person as may be resident with him or her and may not be in employment, and together with the wife of any such able-bodied male person, if she be resident with him; save and except in the following

cases:

1st. Where such person shall require relief on account of sudden and urgent necessity.

2nd. Where such person shall require relief on account of any sickness, accident, or bodily or mental infirmity affecting such person or any of his or her family.

3rd. Where such person shall require relief for the purpose of defraying the expenses, either wholly or in part, of the burial of his or her family.

4th. Where such person, being a widow, shall be in the first six months of her widowhood.

5th. Where such person shall be a widow, and have