The Committee of the Mansion House Relief Fund have published
their report upon the proceedings of the year. They raised last year, which was one of exceptional severity, a sum of £78,600, and expended it ; but they are not contented with themselves. They say the difficulties of discrimination are great, that the local agencies cannot suddenly meet new demands upon them, and that the fund itself draws applicants to London, thereby increasing the congestion already caused bythe popular belief that there " is always work in London." They therefore urge that thorough inquiry should precede the raising of any new fund, that any distress become chronic should be left to the- Poor-Law officers, and that the philanthropic societies should establish a central body in each Poor-Law Union, competent to- act with the Mansion House, and, we may add, with the Local Government Board. That seems sensible, but we do not place much confidence in these spasmodic efforts. What is wanted is the power of suddenly adding to the means of inquiry and distribution possessed by the Guardians, leaving private charity to fill up chinks. At present, a portion of the distressed, and not the most worthy, are over-relieved, while the general want remains almost as before.
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