Poor Relief - Law Commission

(b) accounts of the previous Guardians to be valid as evidence in disputes; all
persons holding money or other goods belonging to the previous
Guardians to account for the same to the Directors appointed under this
Act; all certificates of settlement and other documentation relating to the
poor to remain at the house of industry; Overseers authorised to sue on
certain securities (Sections 4 - 7)
(c) Guardians to swear to their qualifications; female Guardians may vote by
proxy; present Directors of the poor in the United District and their Clerk
and other officers to continue in post until succeeded by others at the
scheduled election; annual meetings for nominating Directors; no
Churchwarden or Overseer of the Poor to be deemed ineligible for
nomination; Overseers to keep lists of the persons nominated (Sections 8
- 12)
(d) Guardians to elect 24 Directors from the nominations list, a certain
number from each parish of the United District; provisions for the
replacement of Directors; election of Directors; Justices to be honorary
Directors (Sections 13 - 18)
(e) Directors’ oath of office; penalty for refusing to take office by taking the
oath; penalty for acting as a Guardian or Director without being qualified;
Guardians empowered to alter number of Directors to be elected from
each parish, provided the total number of Guardians remains at 24;
Guardians may remove any of the 24 Directors from office (Sections 19 –
21)
(f) provision for annual and quarterly meetings of the Guardians; weekly
meetings of the Directors; provision for the calling of special meetings; no
acts by the Guardians or Directors to be valid unless done at a meeting
held in pursuance of this Act with sufficient numbers present; a chairman
to be elected at every meeting to have the casting vote in case of equality
of votes; adjournment and resumption of meetings (Sections 22 – 27)
(g) Directors may form committees of not less than 5 for making rules and
orders for the better regulation of the house of industry; penalty on
Directors for not attending meetings; Guardians and Directors to cover
their own expenses (Section 28 – 30)
(h) Directors to appoint a Clerk and a Treasurer and other officers to work in
the house of industry, including a Chaplain, a Governor and a Matron;
officers to be paid a salary; the Treasurer and the Clerk to be different
people; appointment of special constables for the execution of this Act;
136