The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-10-27 00:00:00

MORT WRIGHT OF BREAD TO TUB POOR.

The CHI3I Courratut in his repurt slated that with a
view of auertainining whether the bread delivered to
the recipients of out-door relief in the different unions
of the county was a proper weight, instructions were
given during the peat quarter to weighs certain number
of loaves on the day of delivery from the different con•
tractors. The result was as follows ; 145 loaves were
weighed, of which only 66 were proper weight, the
deficiency in the remaining 89 averaging from upwards
of a quarter of a potted downwards, the average lou per
loaf being 201. Itdr. Within the last fortnight the
bread has again being weighed, and there is • consider.
able Improvement, though in three cues there was a
deficiency of ex much as 503. per 41b. lost. I beg
to bring these facie to the notice of the Court, an show-
ing that although in many cues proper weight is given,
still, as • rule, the poor do not receive the amount they
I are supposed to get.
The Earl of SSATTISBURY maid he had been struek,
U no doubt had many of them, by the report of the
Chief Constable, with respect to the undue weight of
bread given to the paupers. It was very true that
there ia a certain measure of due weight given Gat the
proposition of undue weight was frightfully large. He
thought this matter, more than any other, required the
attention of the assembled magistrates, to see that
paupers did receive the due measure and weight which
they are entitled to have. He thought there was net a
single thing more important in the present day
than that the gentry of England should show
that they were .live to the interests and rights of
poor people, and hr hoped they would give due encour-
agement to the excellent Chief Constable who had
been no active in detesting and exposing this abominable
imposition—(applesse).
. . . • •

Mr. J. 11. CALcurr pointed out that it was not only
the poor who were robbed, but also the ratepayers.
Mr. HERBKIT -.WILLIAMS said the difficulty was in the
law itself, as them was no penalty for gelling short
weight, only for not selling by weight. He hoped that
as Lord Shaftesbury had taken up the isubjeat so kindly
and well, he would bring it to the notice a the IRMA.
of Lords.

Lord SHAFTEMICILY : I will.
Mr. J. 11. CaLcsarr said that in their part of the
county, the breed contractor was bound to carry with
him males and weights, in order to weigh oat the bread
on delivery. Then relieving officer was strictly ordered
to see that the Mead was the due weight, and it was
done by weighing the loaves& dozen or so at a time.

- -
Lord SHATTRSBUST said it seemed to him that in tip I
ease referred t, by the Chief Conitcble there was •
contract, and therefore if the contractor undertook t 3
deliver loaves of • certain weight. and they proved to
be below the mark, lie was guilty of • breach of contract.
The Bev. C. W. BINGHAM said that in their union
they saw that the relieving officer went with the bread
when delivered.
WILLIAMS said that at the lunatic asylum the
bread was weighed, • number of loaves being put into
the scales together. In large towns it was common for
weight to be made at the time of sale by °bopping off a
piece of •loaf or adding to it ac warn required.
The CHAIRMAN said the great object in bringing this
matter before the Court, was to direct the attention
of those who mist as Boards of Guardians to
the great (rand wEich is going on. The Chief
Constable knew perfectly well who the offending
contractor, were, hut he thought be bad exercised •
wise discretion in not making known the names now.
But he knew who were the defaulters and evitematio
. delimiters. The relieving officers must see the bread
' weighed and delivered, and if short weight is found
&nein the offender must be taken before the county
court judge, and dealt with for breach of contract. No
i doubt this would do forth to the whole country through
the press, and he hoped the Chief Constable would not
I have to reporting higher default in the matter.