The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-01 00:00:00

FARNHAM WORKHOUSE.

The first meeting of the board of guardians of
the Farnham Union subsequent to the report of the Lancet
Sanitary Commissioners, which has produced so much ex-
citement, not unmixed with public indignation, took place
yesterday in the board-room at the Farnham Workhouse,
when the subject alluded to was brought forward for dis-
ctuotion.l
Some conversation took place relative to the course
which the board would adopt in reference to the Poor-law
inquiry announced to take place, and it was considered
desirable by several guardians that the discussion should
be continued with closed doors, although they desired that
the inquiry itself should be public. The opinion of the
guardians was expressed by
Mr. Eve, who said—As the board are aware, there will
be an inquiry into an accusation which I for one deny the
existence of, and I consider it very frivolous, vexatious,
and false—(hear, hear)—and, inasmuch as there must be
an inquiry, I want to know whether the guardians will not,
with closed doors, consider as to what way the inquiry
shall take place. I have • letter from the inspector whose
conduct has been grievously impugned, and who has as
much right to complain as we have, inasmuch as he is •
paid officer, but oar services are given gratuitously.
Mr. Rousici thought all would agree to the suggest ion '
without incurring any reproach fur holding the inquiry
with closed doors.

Mr. Eve—ln point of fact there is no authority with in-
dividual guardians as to the mode in which an inquiry is
to be conducted, nor min they clh,tate to the Poor-law
Board, but the guardians hare have nothing whatever to
conceal. As far as I have had an opportunity of judging,
they have endeavoured to do their duty, and, with refer-
ence to the statements made, you will agree that they are
exaggerated in may respects. The guardians have at-
tempted to do their duty, and there has been no shirk-
ing of responsibilities. I feel with them that for
years past a state of things has been tolerated in this
workhouse which was like nothing but Pandemonium,but
when it goes on to say that it was a Pandemonium simply
through your having ignored all complaints, except from
the master, it becomes unjust, as no complaint would
arise but would have been listened to calmly and delibe-
rately by you. If the state of the infirmary in this work-
house be as it is described, then it was the duty, not of
any single guardian, but of the medical edicer himself, to
report thereon, which he never did. (Hear, hear.) It is
his duty to bring the matter firmly before the hoard for
consideration, that the board might make some amend-
ment There might be some laxity on the part of the
visiting guardians, but it is not possible for men of busi-
ness to be coming here and looking into every minute
corner. I have, as a visitor, gone over the workhouse, and
I do not find that the wails are dirty and the rooms so bars
as they are described, but I found it to all appearance decent,
and better than I have found rooms at militia and military
station,. Our paupers cannot be expected to have luxuries
—(a Voice : "They do have them ")—but I do expect them
to have comforts, and in cases of sickness more than com-
forts. The visitors who have been here have not received
complaints from the paupers themselves, and it is the
paupees' duty to complain, and on the medical officer see-
ing anything wrong it was his bounden duty to report it.
We have only one duty to perform, and that is to see that
this house is kept in proper order, and, so far as we can,
to attend to all complaints that may be brought before us.
If, as guardians, we have seen anything wrong,. it was our
duty to bring it before the board. That which I have
seen I have noticed, and I fear we have not sufficient ac-
commodation for those who are suffering from contagious
diseases. It is necessary to provide a proper house
for persons so suffering in every pariah. The guardians
themselves are not the hard-hearted persons they are
represented to be, and they have ever endeavoured to
make amendments when such have been required. There
may be some who are narrow in their minds, but it shall
not be said that any poor person who has applied for relief
has made complaint without having had full redress.
With reference to a statement at the end of that report,
namely, that this workhouse is a reproach to England, a
scandal and curse to Christendom, I leave that to those
who know this house well, and who have come to this
board to judge of the truth of that statement. I know
the house is clean and tidy, and there are • number of
persons outside who would be happy to have such
shelter over their heads. We cannot go into the
construction of the house ; that is a matter for
the Poor-law Board. It has been certified by the
Poor-law Board, and they are responsible fur its
defects. (Hear, hear.) Much has been said against
the Poor-law inspector. He is kind, and if he has failed
in his duty it has not been from any fault of the heart so
much as the head. I have no doubt he will justify him-
self fully, but I am here as a guardian, and any complaint
made has been attended to. I therefore move " That
the guardians communicate at once to the Poorlaw Board
their wish that a full, fair, and open inquiry take place
into the matters in question, and that an inspector un-
acquainted with the district be, appointed to conduct such
inquiry. _ _

iheCHAIRMILV—The statement of the Lancet commis-
sioners, together with several other statements consequent
upon it, of course caused me great an . When I
was Let in the country I heard that an inquiry was pro-
jected, and that it was proposed Mr. Hawley should come
down to make that inquiry. I took the liberty, without
consulting you, to go to the Poor-law Board, and to in.
form them that the course proposed would not be satisfac-
tory to the board of guardians or to the public. Upon
that the Poor-law Board wrote to Mr. Hawley,
and begged him to defer the investigation until
a future day. There has been no stifling the
matter on the part of the Poor-law Board. They
are desirous of having an open inquiry, and I wish it to go
forth to the public from this room that it is the intention
of nobody to conceal anything whatever in connexion with
this union. A day or two before the Laned commissioners
visited the house I and others inspected the building, and
this entry in the visitors' book shows the result of our
inspection :—" Visited the sick wards, and also those occu-
pied by widows and children. Found some repairs neces-
sary in the wards and lavatories, and also recommended
that water be laid on to the north of male infirmary. In
all other reskfcts these wards are cleanly, and the patients
comfortable.

After a few further remarks from other guardians in
support of those previously given, the motion was seconded
by Mr. Simmons, and unanimously agreed to.
The official inquiry which was to have taken place to-
day ham been indefinitely postponed.