On Wednesday Mr. Asquith received a deputation from both Houses
of Convocation of Canterbury on the subject of Poor Law reform. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who headed the deputation, pointed out that eighteen months had elapsed since the Commission had reported, and asked the Government to take action as speedily as possible. Mr. Asquith in his reply said that there was "a substantial unanimity both as to the gravity and the character of the evils which were incident to the present system." After remarking that the problem would have to be attacked piecemeal, he pointed out that since the Report was issued the Government had not been idle. Old-age pensions and labour exchanges bad been established, and they were committed to schemes for insurance against sickness and unemployment. They hoped, moreover, to deal with the question of boy-labour, as well as with the feeble-minded and vagrants, at the earliest opportunity.
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