[98] See the "Suggestions as to the most eligible modes of Providing Outdoor Employment ... in cases where there is not an efficient workhouse, and preparatory to the establishment of the Workhouse System," p. 45 of Second Annual Report, 1836.
[99] Circular, 8th November 1834, p. 73 of First Annual Report, 1835.
[100] Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v., art. 27, p. 92 of Second Annual Report, 1836.
There was even a third series of Orders, which may perhaps be regarded as even more provisional and temporary than the first series. To various local authorities in large towns (such as Norwich), and in the Metropolitan parishes, Orders were issued from 1835 onwards, simply requiring that any outdoor relief to the able-bodied should be, to the extent of one-third[101]--sometimes to the extent of one-half[102]--"relief in kind," that is to say, in loaves of bread.[103]
[101] Poor Law Commissioners to Norwich Court of Guardians, 25th July 1835; Special Order to Norwich, 29th July 1835; MS. Minutes, Norwich Court of Guardians, July and August 1835.
[102] Special Order to Norwich, 21st October 1835; Poor Law Commissioners to Norwich Court of Guardians, 21st October 1835; MS. Minutes, Norwich Court of Guardians, October 1835.
[103] This term, Relief in Kind, has always been limited to food, though the character of the food has been varied. Medicine and "medical extras" supplied to the paupers in their homes have been included in the term Outdoor Medical Relief. The provision of clothing and bedding to the outdoor poor--classed as ordinary Outdoor Relief--though permitted, has never been encouraged by the Central Authority. (_Official Circular_, 10th November 1840, No. 9, p. 117; _Ibid._, July 1850, No. 39 N.S., p. 108; _see also Selections from the Correspondence of the Local Government Board_, vol. ii., 1880, p. 71.) The provision of tools or implements of trade was considered not to be of the nature of relief, and therefore not legal. It was expressly prohibited by the Outdoor Relief Regulation Order of 1852 (art. 3). Payment of rent (except the provision of temporary lodging in urgent and sudden necessity, or for housing a lunatic) was from the outset strictly prohibited. (_See_ Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order of 1844, art. 5, and Outdoor Relief Regulation Order of 1852, art. 3.) This prohibition of payment of rent seems to have been considered of importance by the Poor Law Commissioners. The impracticability of preventing ordinary outdoor relief from being applied in payment of the pauper's rent seems only gradually to have dawned upon the Poor Law Board. In 1852 it was explained that although the Order "prohibits the Guardians from paying the rent for a pauper either directly or indirectly, it does not prevent them from allowing him such relief as under all the circumstances of the case his necessities may require; it will rest with the pauper to dispose of the relief afforded to him in such manner as he may think fit." (Poor Law Board to Hemsworth Union, 19th October 1852; in House of Commons, No. 111 of 1852-3, p. 96.) A similar decision was given in 1902. (_See Local Government Chronicle_, 9th August 1902, p. 805.) The prohibition still remains in force, but is accordingly not now regarded as of importance.