View report page

14
of the Overseers, it is important that the Parish, as a whole, should be
in touch with their general proceedings. Their accounts (so far as
the Poor rate is concerned) are subject to an audit by the Local
Government Board, and their accounts (so far as the General Rate is
concerned) are audited by the Vestry's Auditors, and delivered to the
Vestry annually; but further than this on one has any control or
official knowledge of their proceedings. The Local Government
Board instructed the Vestry to apply for an Order so that the powers
of the Overseers might be transferred to the Vestry. This matter
is still under consideration.
Early in the year the Vestry had before them the distress
occasioned by the memorable winter of 1894-95. To provide work
for the unemployed is beyond the scope of the Vestry; and it
seemed of the first importance that there should be the closest
co-operation between the Vestry and the Guardians. A recommendation
was received from the St. Saviour's Guardians to the
effect that it would be desirable that the Vestry should provide
work for carefully-selected men who were out of employment through
no fault of their own ; and this recommendation received the support
of the Vestry. It should not, however, be forgotten that the employment
of a large number of casual labourers on a quasi-charitable basis
tends to demoralise the permanent staff. The present Vestry is
irrevocably committed to the direct employment of labour. The
system cannot work satisfactorily unless pains are taken so to
arrange the work of the Parish that continuous employment may be
provided for serviceable men. The Parish pays a full rate of wage ;
they have a right to demand full value for their money. And
although, happily, through the mildness of the past winter, there was
no serious pressure of exceptional distress, it must not be forgotten that
in a Parish such as this there are always a large number of men out of
work. It would appear that if any permanent help is to be given to
this unfortunate and pitiable class, the matter must be taken in hand
by the Local Government Board, acting on carefully-considered
lines. It is futile, as well as costly, to expect a purely administrative
body such as the Vestry to attempt to deal with a question which
presents greater difficulties than any other social question now before
the Legislature. A Vestry has neither the staff nor the experience to
enable them to grapple with so complicated a subject.