We have seen that the policy of the Report and Act of 1834, with regard to vagrants, was to ignore them as a class, to relieve them only in the workhouse, and to deal with them exactly as with other workhouse inmates. What the Central Authority seems to have contemplated was that the strict application of the "workhouse test" would not only prevent vagrants coming on the rates at all, but that it could be used to prevent almsgiving. It was apparently with this view that the Central Authority, in 1837, sanctioned a code of regulations for the admission to the workhouse of the "casual poor," meaning "wayfarers" or homeless "persons in a state of destitution ... who ... belonged to distant parishes."[121] These regulations included admission by tickets distributed by any ratepayer, and the performance of a task of work before the grant of a meal.[122] In diet, discipline, and other treatment, they were to be dealt with "as the other paupers in the workhouse."[123] In other unions the regulations included the establishment of a separate vagrant ward, which was equally sanctioned by the Central Authority. A similar plan was strongly pressed on the local authorities of the Metropolis in 1838 and 1839.[124] Such vagrants must, however, if destitute, not be refused relief.[125] The Central Authority hoped that "if these arrangements be adopted ... casual almsgiving in the streets, by which vagrancy and imposture are encouraged, will be materially checked."[126] [121] Letter, 6th September 1837, in Fourth Annual Report, 1838, p. 154. [122] pp. 135-141 of Third Annual Report, 1837. [123] p. 89 of Fifth Annual Report, 1839. [124] Instructional Circular, 12th December 1838; in Fifth Annual Report, 1839, p. 87; ditto, 7th December 1839, in Sixth Annual Report, 1840, p. 103. [125] Letter, 2nd August 1841, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 77. [126] Circular, 7th December 1839; in Sixth Annual Report, 1840, p. 104.