The Majority Report wanted to keep a destitution authority and persisted in locking charity into the framework set by the poor law, holding on to the idea that the statutory and voluntary sectors would deal with different client groups. But a Council of Voluntary Aid meant more joint working between the poor law and charity. The council to be set up in each district would have more cross representation between it and poor law authority. The Majority also raised the possibility of financial aid for the voluntary sector from the state, and spoke of bringing charities 'into the field of public work and responsibility'. These were crucial for some of the members. In the special committee set up in 1907, Arthur Clay objected to the establishment of 'statutory official relations' between the voluntary and statutory secotoes and defended the maintenance of a clear boundary line between them [See L 76].

A resolution in favour of the Majority Report; "the policy already adopted by the Council of promoting the formation of Councils of Social Welfare and the formation of Local Relief, Inter-Parochialm or Ward Committees will tend to the creation of an organisation similar to that created by the Royal Commission". Some members against the resolution: the subsidies of Voluntary Aic Councils by grant; the functions of Poor Law and Charity would be confused. B.Bosanquet urged that the recommendations of the Commissioners set the crown upon the efforts which the Society had been making during the last years: "For years they had been striving to direct the multidinous rivulets of charitable help into one broad stream draining the whole landscape instead of letting them meander into stagnant swamps, and now had come the chance of their lives". The resolution carried with a proviso against the clause in the Commission's recommendation by which Voluntary Aid Council might receive grants from the State [SW 279].