The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-09 00:00:00

OP METROPOLITAN GUARDIANS.

Yesterday s large meeting of the Metropolitan
Beards of Guardians and others was held at St. James's
Hall, to mender the provisions of the Homeless Poor
Act. Amongst those present were Mr. J. Stuart Mill,
M.P., Oaptain Grosvenor, M.P., Colonel Hogg, M.P., Sir
James Hamilton, de
Dr. BREWER, Churchwarden of St. George's, Hanover-
spars, oseupied the chair, and in a speech of 40 minutes'
duration brought the subject before the meeting. They, he
said, as guardians, did not profiled to be either law makers or
law menders, they were simply administrators of the laws,
sadeollectors d the rates for the relief of the destitute.
Set that befog the case, there arose the question—care
:g
ererely to administer wider cue act, or were they to
the nature of their duty and the extent of their
power from all the statutes which had from time to time
emanated from parliament or the Poor-law Commissimers?
And it also was of great oonsequeucs to consider how far
the Hounslow; Poor Aot abrogates other acts pissed:re:to,
Poor-law Commissioners, with respeot to impostors.
pewiligetes, pickposkets. and small rallerses, commonly
called sneaks," but who by some alight cheap of terms
had been called mewls. He believed they had to act
according to the combined mewing of all the acts
on the subject, and not merely on the Homeless Poor
Act, for it wee wall known that one act did
not expunge the provisions of another previously
mined, unless there was a special clause stating
' all previous legislation on this subject notwith-
standing to the contrary.' There was nothing of that sort
in the Homeless Poor Act, sad therefore it would have to
be taken with others. He believed that vagrancy was one
of the most fruitful causes of crime, and hitherto govern-
ment bad so viewed it, and had held Ain cheek. He
would quote to them the words of the late commissioner,
Mr. Charles Boller, who laid down the four following pro-
positions :—" L That the system of late years advocated in
the relief of the osanal poor has been the principal cause of
✓oy. 2ndiy. That • regular provision of food and
lodging for everyone who choices to demand them at any
place tempts those to vagrancy who would not otherwise
have adopted that inclination. Srdly. That • disorindm.
than and a steady refusal to aid them not ascertained
to be destitute are the remedies. And 4thly. Thai
to repel an impostor Is as much the duty of
the administrators of relief as to relieve the destitute.'
The speaker pomaded to quote largely from the various
expressions of opinion on the pert of the Poor-law Board,
and endeavoured to show therefrom that it had always up
to the present time enforced upon guardians the necessity
of withholding relief from those not ascertained to be de-
serving poor. The class at present relieved under the
Homeless Poor Act wen, he said, mostly thieves, ninety-
five out of every hundred net being casuals in any sense of
the word. Ha concluded by advocating the estthlislinalet
of casual wards at police stations, which he said would have
the effect of giving the police their own.
Major Lrox, of St. Worm's, Hanover-square, referred
to the proem:ll2p at a meeting on the 'abject of the sick
poor, held on Saturday. He was surprised that • pose of
the realm had been found to countenance the proceedings.
He believed that the malty poor were grossly injured by the
Homeless Poor Act, adbe referred to statistim showing
that whore casuals were sent to lodgings (from his parish)
after the ordinary ward/ were full, they scarcely ever returned
for their breakfasts in the morning except on Sundays,
when there was no work to do. So that they might
have something before them he would move:—
" That in the opinion of this meeting no legislative
measure for the management of the Homeless
poor will be satisfactory or efficient which does not contain
two conditions—viz., classification and strict and careful
supervision."
Dr. Br or.s.e seconded the motion.
Mr. TALVINZIL thought they might either ask government
to withdraw and annul the Homeless Poor Act, or at least
to modify it.
Mr. BLarcwroan, of Fulham, did not think it possible to
classify emu& He referred to the statements that had
been made about the disgraceful condition of the Clerken-
well wart* and begged of anybody present to refute those
statements if untrue.

Mr. Boa; of Lambeth, having declaimed against sessa-
tonal writers on the subject,
Colonel Haw, M.P., supported the chairman, and said
it was a great pity Mr. Farnal/ had not accepted the Invi-
tation to be present at that meeting.y He thought that the
Homeless Poor Act, instead of dicrcaairy, bad increased
pauperism.
Captain Gitoesvmeolt, M.P., said he was there because
be sympathised with the poor, and also to show his sym-
pathy with those who devoted their time despite the ob-
loquy thrown upon them in attending to the interests of the
poor. He entirely concurred with the wisdom of the meet-
ing, and would support a repeal or alteration of the Home-
less Poor Act.

Mr. Bonthron, of St. James's ; Mr. Englefield, of St.
George, Hanover-square; Mr. Madding, of W hiteohapel, sad
others, baring spoken in terms strongly condemnatory of the
Hounder Poor Act, Major Lyon withdrew his original
motion, and moved Instead, mat in the opinion of this
meeting the Emmeline Poor Act does not act practical)
well, and that it would be &nimble to have the act repealed,
and a more comprehensive legislation introdnoed during the
present session of parliament by the Poor-law Board.
Mr. BLATCHPOID seconded the resolution, which was
carried.

A document which had been privately circulated con-
taining statements by Mr. Farnall of a damaging character
against the guardian', was referred to in very severe terms
by several speakers.

MARKET&

TALLOW.—THCBSDAT Evemams.—The market was flat
today.—Spot sad liter* 495. 3d. ; April to Jane, 49a. 3d.;
Jane, 50a. 3d.; October to December. Ms. Delivery to
last evening, 842 auks ; no arrivals.

ourroic—Lxviaroo4 MLICU & —Egyptian cotters bag
again advanced id. to gd. per lb. ; otlarr surds eA the full
proves of yesterday. 13a1es today, 15,000 base, inolud-
ift 5,000 for specalatios sad export. 7,000 Americas,
mid. to 214 d. ; 1,500 Parma, dm, 190. to 21d. ; 300
Maranbam, 20d. to Mid. ; 100 Maceio and Bads, 191 d. ;
1,500 Baptise, 224 d. to 29d. ; 300 Smyrna, 14d. to 17d. ;
4,000 Surat, 12d. to 174 ; Madras, 140. to 16d. ; Bengal,
Sande, ko., 124 d. to 134. ; 300 Peru, 1844. to 20d.

WOOL AND WOBEITED..--BRADIORD, Masai B.—Tbe
Bristol wool fair opened yesterday, and it is reported there
wee a COOsiderable attendance of buyers, very little wool
shown, and better prices demanded. In this marhet there
is • steady business doing in wool. The weight of wool
changinghands is notlarge. Them is somethingdoingiaionall
lots and picked sorts, such as lustre, and in South Downs,
and in Herefordshire and Shropshire matchings. For such
sorts as are in demand prices have a hardening tendency, and
tbeprices of other sorts are very firm. There is • better feel-
ing in the worsted yarn branch. The advices from abroad are
decidedly more favourable for yarns for that quarter. The
foreign haulm have, however, now covered their require-
ments for super 30's, and other sorts usually required for
the continental markets, and are not disposed at present to
give fresh orders. Prices Sr. general, firm, though, not-
withstanding the stooks of mime of the larger spinners. who
are firmer in their demands, have recently been moved off,
them are still docks in the hands of smaller spinners, who, ft
is said, would not be indisposed to yield • slight concession.
Oarded yarns, for some time neglected, were is somewhat
better demand. The home trade continues steady.
Oenappee, exept for picked numbed, Sr. quiet Thera le
little or no change to report in the piece branch. The
American houses are almost entirely out of the market.
The foreign trade is still of • very had-to-month cha-
racter. Some feworders for future delivery have been placed
by the home trade, bat them are ementional mesa The
home merchants generally are coly trying to escort stocks, I
or anything cheap that may fall in their way. The plain
makers generally continue well employed; fancy mans are
Not so favourably situated.Tbe bulk of the orders which
are in bud are being fast executed ; and as the present is
what is called "between the seasona," manufacturers will
require some fresh orders to keep their machinery running
for a few months until the demand for the autumn sets in. I
The hardening tendency of cotton, and the firmer peke of
wool, have • marked innuendo in causing firmness in the
quotations for pima.

LACE AND HOSlZlLT.—Nowsnronnic llnnon —_
A 'omniscient of reports this week shows thst the loos node
has not noovered from the quietness which chareaterned
it kat week, though Users in so doubt the business done
is still mosidersibly in excess of whet it wee at the
corresponding period of lest year. From the Wound*,