The Express.
London, England, 1865-11-03 00:00:00

VIOLATIONS OF THS HOl7l

ACT.
__._-

POOR

" We're no worse than our neighbours" is the key
note of every excuse made by the authorities of
workhouses. Insufficient accommodation for casual
poor, tacit refusals to comply with the instructions
of the Peor-law Board and the spirit of the law,
accusations of indifference and neglect, are all held
to be sufficiently explained and answered by the
counter allegations freely made. At Bermondsey,
the other day, a great point was made of the custom
in other parishes, and the representatives of the
press were requested to state that much undeserved
odium had been cast upon this unpopular local.
board by reason of its candour. Let other work-
houses be called upon to furnish such statistics
as we have given—said in effect the Bermondsey

gaardians—end it will be seen that we are excep-
tionally considerate, charitable, and humane ; that
we relieve more casuals and comply more closely
with the spirit of the law than many an adjacent
parish which hes escaped censure. The answer to
this specious argument, namely, that every work-
Loose is bound to afford shelter, or the means at
shelter, to all destitute applicants, without reference
to the custom elsewhere, is not a popular one, and
it is not wonderful if the parishes which have been
publicly blamed for shortcomings, and which have
made concessions to the law, should wish their
neighbours to be placed on an equal footing with
themselves.
It is, moreover, essential to t e proper working of
the act that its provisions should be rigidly
observed in every metropolitan parish. Loose
statements to the effect that this is not the ease
are familiar to every inquirer. No workhouse offi-
cial believes that the act is uniformly observed ;
no workhouse master whose rule is to admit all
destitute applicants but believes his workhouse is
the most liberal of all. Add to this, that the
houseless poor themselves are unanimous in their
testimony as to refusals and closed doors, and there
is at least sufficient ground for doubting the proper
observance of the law. It has been reserved for
the master of a workhouse acting legally to make
these doubts certainties, and premising that we
have full confidence is our authority we commend
the following facts to the consideration of all
interested in poor law reform.
On Tuesday evening last, six casual paupers, one
man and five women, were selected out of a vast
number of applicants, and examined as to the places
at which they had previously applied for shelter
the same night. The man stated he bad been
refused at St. Martin's-in-the-fields, and the women
had met with similar treatment at the workhouses
of St. James's, Poland-street, Clerkenwell, and Hol-
born. Determined to sift the matter to the bottom,
and to teat the accommodation at St. Pancras and
St. Giles as well, the workhouse master, accompa-
nied by a witness, took the man and one woman
out and went with them to the places named. At
St. Martin's-in-the-fields the law was observed, and
after some little hesitation both paupers had thence
offered them. At Sc. Giles's they were asked a few
questions, admonished as to the lateness of the hour ,
(10 p.m.), told they ought to have applied to the.
overseer during the day, and were finally refused
admission. At Holborn, at 10.15 p.m., the door
was not even opened, and "full since 6 o'clock,"
shouted through the wicket, was the only answer
vouchsafed to the applicant. At Clerkenwell, at
10.25 p.m., the same reply was given in the same
fashion, the door being kept close shut as at Hol-
born. Here, however, the female casual was more
persistent, and pleaded that she would have to re-
main in the streets all night. This elicited "Serve
you right ; you ought to have come earlier, " from
the porter. At St. Pancras, at 10.45 p.m.,
the door was opened, and the night porter asked
the two poor people whether they could not read,
at the same time surlily pointing to a printed an-
nouncement, " The casual wards are full." Here,
however, upon insisting upon their fatigue, they
were each presented with half a pound of bread—
ths parochial compromise for warmth and shelter—•
before being sent off. At St. James's, Poland-
street, at 11.30 p.m., both =II and woman were
examined, and the former offered a bed, while the
woman was refused.
Comment upon the foregoing experiment would
be superfluous. In spite of legislation, admonition, •
and benevolent effort, the bon/Nile's poor of London
are not yet protected from the streets. Guardians
and parish officers still tamper with the law, and
until uniformity of action is enforced, the public may
expect to hear of the so-called failure of the House- '
less Poor Act, and the vast increase of vagrancy it '
has brought about. It is obvious that the work-
bosses acting legally tinder present cdaditions will '
be overcrowded, and that from time to time repre-
sentations will be made of the augmented numbers
in certain casual wards. We know on the best
authority that the aggregate number of beds pro-
vided in workhouses is now more than equal to the
floating population of London vagrants, and that
the refuges supported by private charity would be
made unnecessary if the law were properly carried
out It is for the authorities and the public to de-
clare how long this humane provision is to be ren-
dered nugatory by the selfish obstructiveness of the
people to whose tender mercies we entrust our
houseless poor.

The Right Hon. C. R. Adderley, M.P., and Mr. .
Daymport Bromley, M.P.. attended the 'awl mestiog of
the Cohabit), Faratere Cab. on Wed:medal. The exhibi-
tioe wee el "cora, rests, sad vegetables," and wee said
to he of • very superior ebareeter.
Tam Smrentritalm CLUB Oar= Snow. —We are
requested to *Ash the followiag ansagemeate, which the
Coaaeil of the flaiithaeld Club hes esseidered it 116011111887
to Mile in commasses of Ms cattle plague :—L That the
date of the show be altered to Monday, llth of December,
than briaging it a week soarer to Christmas than originally
2. That ao beast, sheep. nor pig that has bees
exhibited at any show within owe month previous to the
Etniithield Club Show be allowed to aster the agricultaial-
hall. 3. That each exbibitee he required to produces •
eartiheate from • qualified vetorteary surgeon, showing that
each animal is free from the rinderpest, aid has not bum
es the mom farm where infertedsainials have been within 21
days previously. 4. The council appointed a committee to
each. arrangements respecting disinfected convey: mom In
which Womb. lea the show may he carted from the railway
timid la London, alai lie ementanicabi with the railway
aelherities is valsemes to the seemyeam of dm salmis
os their respaitive liar. 6. The Royal Veterinary Wimp
ere remmeted to make the assesserY arrammasete ter •
thorough inspection el every missal on its arrival at the
ball, sad for voterbary impestais to he in &Marisa* beth
by day and night. 6. It was deterwAsed that, with die
enuearreene of the AgelealimilMMl Oesepsey, the show
shall me moils open so keg se usual• sad that it shall
dosses the Ttenmetay evening besteed of tbe Friday.
It is stated that at a joint meeting of the directors
of the Ilestlish lferthaleatsee sad the OaWsales Railway
• ag:=. ea Ti,ig the teems of Maga*
mesa mire s