The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-10-16 00:00:00

POOR LAW CONFERENCE AT
LIVERPOOL.

- .
The annual conference of Poor-law Guardians
and officials of unions in Lancashire and Cheshire
commenced in Liverpool on Friday, under the presi-
dency of the Right Hon. J. T. Hilbert. There was
a large attendance. The President, in his opening
address, said he could still congratulate the country
and the guardians of the country upon the position
of its pauperism, for though it had increased during
the year 1885 in comparison with 1884, it had not
increased in nearly so large a manner as they might
have expected, looking at the very severe depression
which had prevailed. A considerable portion of the
credit was owing to improved administration, but
they must also give a large amount of credit to the
better state of feeling of the industrial classes with
regard to prudence, temperance, and thrift. Compqr-
ing the mean number of paupers relieved during the
last 14 years he found that though the number re-
lieved was greater last year than in five of the pre-
ceding years, it was less in 1885 than in 1872 by the
large number or 208,000 persons. The change in
the Lancashire unions was not so satisfactory as he
should like to see it, for the number of paupers who
were receiving relief had increased from 55,164 on
Jan. 1,1876, to 83,124 in the beginning of the present
year. This he could only account for by the bad con-
dition of trade. With regard • o the cost of relief the
expenditure of 1885 amounted to £8,483,000 or
£133,000 more than it was in the year 1884.
During the five years from 1883 to 1887 the cost had
been gradually increasing, while the number of
paupers has been steadily decreasing. Although
there were throughout England and Wales 208,000
fewer paupers in 1875 than 1872 there had been an
increase in the number of indoor paupers to the
extent of 346,600, and this was one of the reasons
why their expenditure had been increasing while the
aggregate number of paupers had been diminishing.
Then there was an improved system of management,
, not only for workhouses but also for the sick. (Hear,
hear.) Considering that more was spent upon tobacco
, and snuff than upon paupers he thought they
, were justified as a Christian country so lung as they
had to deal with these unfortunate cases in doing
their utmost, without being too generous, to give
paupers a comfortable home for the time they were
within the workhouse, and relief from sickness. (Hear,
hear.) He did not think there was a country which
could find fault with the labours of the guardians of
England and Wales. (Cheers.) A paper was read
by Mr. J. W. Mellor, of Oldham, on the desirability
of employing indoor pauper children as half-timers
under the Factory Acts. Mr. Mellor argued in favour
of the scheme, on the ground that it was important to
give an early individual training at the factories.—A
discussion followed, in which the proposals in the
paper were generally approved of. Dr. J. M.
Rhodes, of Chorlton, next read a paper on "Work-
house Dietaries." He advocated the appointment of
a commission to inquire into the dietaries of work-
houses throughout the country, with a view to secure
greater uniformity. In a short discussion which
ensued the opinion of the majority of the speakers
was that it was wiser to leave the Guardians to fix
the dietary tables, according to the requirements of
the people of their particular districts. A deputation
was appointed to attend the next annual poor-law
conference in London, and it was decided to hold the
net conference of the North-Western Unions in
Manchester.

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BUT we get accustomed to mental as well as bodily
pain, losing our insensi6ility to it; it bmomes a
habit of our lives, and we cease to imagine a condition
of perfect ease as possible to us.
TIIE word liberty has boen falsely used by persons
who, being degenerately profligate in private life and
mischievous in public, had no hope left but in foment-
ing discord.
Tintousit the night to light, storm to calm, frost to
spring, strife to peace, woe to joy, sweat to sleep,
arose to crown, death to life—sucn is God's order in
nature and in grace.
Tim true test of a great man—that at least which
must secure his place among the 'highest -order of
great men—is his having been in advance of his
see.