The Poor-law Commissioners are involved in a dispute with the
Guardians of the Braintree Union, respecting out-door relief. The Essex Herald gives the following account of a recent interview be- tween a deputation of the Guardians and the. Commissioners. The Guardians stated, that "Within the Union a number of weavers, particularly soft crape-weavers; and other able-bodied men, with large families, were in a starving condition ; those out of work being willing and anxious to labour if it could be procured; and those in work earning only four or five shillings weekly, many having to support ten individuals out of that pittance. The Guardians had, by a majo- rity, resolved that these sad objects of deep concern to those possessing the smallest feelings of humanity, were fit objects of out-door relief; and the deputation, therefore, called upon the Commissioners to relax their rules in favour of them. The Commissioners unanimously objected to give any out- door relief to these applicants; telling the deputation to take them and their families into the workhouse. The deputation—" The whole of the wards for able-bodied men and those for children are full." Commissioners—" Then put the old and infirm people out if the house, and give them out-door relief; by tile means you CCIU make room for the able-bodied applicants." The deputation urged the cruelty of such a course, and said that the workhouse than would not Field thin; besides which, the few articles of furniture and effects of the ap- plicants would be left to the mercy of thieves. The Commissioners conceived their anxiety misplaced, and peremptorily refused to permit any other than relief in the workouse to able-bodied men, and then only on condition that the parents and the whole family entered the house. They further said, that if the workhouses were too small, they might hire a house for the purpose of putting the women and children in, and then there would be room for the men in the workhouse. Further arguments and appeals were used by the depute., tiou ; but the Commissioners were inexorable.
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