The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-12 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this Committee contained no features
of interest:

Mr. DENTON again repeated his question, why it was the
pass office had not been removed from Rigley-street to the
Workhouse ?

Mr. BRADLEY did not know why Mr. Denton persevered
in asking this question.
. . _

Mr. IjENToz. gave notice that at the next meeting he
would repeat the question._ _ _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN said, if Mr. Denton had intended to put
she question to Mr. Bradley, he should have given him
notice.

Mr. DENTON never recognised Mr. Bradley as the,Chair-
man of the Committee.

The CHAIRMAN : You give notice you will put the ques-
tion—to what purport ?
Mr. DEN TON : To ask the, reason why ,the building in
Paul's-square has not been given' up, and why the business
is not removed to the Workhouse ?

The proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. GARDNER begged to suggest that Mr. Denton should
be placed on the Deserted Families Committee.
Mr. Moss thought there were too many already on that
committee, and although Mr. Denton had been for two
years a member of that committee, he (Mr. Moss) never,
with one exception, saw him there.
Mr. DENTON remarked, that the reason why he did not
attend last year was, that he was a member of the Finance
Committee, and the two meetings clashed with each other.
WORKHOUSE COMALITA EE.

The proceedings of this Committee recommended that the
tender of Messrs Holme, to build the north boundary wall
for a sum of £393, be accepted. It was stated that upwards
of 260 children had been removed from the Workhouse to
the Industrial Schools at Kirkdale.

Mr. C AR.NE, in moving the adoption of the proceedings,
said it would be desirable to postpone the discussion on the
removal of the children to the Industrial Schools at Kirkdale;
until the Medical Relief Committee's proceedings were be-
fore the Vestry.

Mr. Moss should like to know if the tender accepted from
Messrs. Holme was the only tender.

Mr. CARNE : Tenders were sought for ; it was the only
tender given in.
Mr. Moss did not like that'system.
Mr. BiUsTNER : How could they help it ?
Mr. WIt.TBY thought Mr. Moss was a party to it.
Mr. LIIFF directed attention to the fact, that two of the
doctors of the Workhouse were absent from duty, and that
during the week a large amount of extra duty had to be
done by others.

Mr. -CARNE : Mr. Talbot is attacked with fever.
Mr. LIIFF : There was no explanation why Mr. Eaton
was away.

Mr. CARNE : Both are laid up with fever. Mr. Eaton
had leave of absence, but he did not take it.
Mr. HART : He asked for leave of absence ; it was re-
ferred to the next meeting, and at that meeting he was re-
ported as taking ill. The•proceedings were then confirmed.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS COMMITTEE

From the report of this Committee it appeared that no
less than 16 boys, and 87 girls, including 58 infants had
been sent from the workhouse to the schools. The Clom-
mittee recommended the general use of clogs in the estab-
lishment, and that 35 dozen of those articles should be pur-
chased for the girls, the cloggers in the house not!being able
to supply the quantity required. The late gales having in-
jured the roof of the school, it was recommended that it be
put into a state of thorough repair. The contract of Mr.
Andrew Wilson,' for cartage, and the bringing of flags, be
accepted. The following communication was read from
Mr. Hagger, the schoolmaster of the establishment, with
reference to the inability of the present staff of teachers to
attend to the additional number of children sent from the
Workhouse to the Schools :

THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

" Boy's School, October sth 1853.
" GENTLEMEN On Sunday last, our numbers were in-
creased to 729 by the transfer of 140 boys from the Work-
house. I feel it my duty to make application to you for
additional assistance.

" Previous to May, 1850, our highest number had been 527.
For the education of these there was a staff of four masters
and a body of pupil teachers, varying from 13 to 19. On
your deeming it advisable to break up the infant school, in
June, lB5O, upwards of 100 members were added to this de-.
partment—for the instruction of these no further provision
was made. Now, another great increase has been made, rais-
ing the number to upwards of 700. If the services of four
masters and thirteen pupil teachers were considered necessary
when our number was 500, I need only say we have now 719
bop, with but four masters and five pupil teachers, to show
you that something fnrther should be done. However anxious
and able four masters may be,it is manifestly impossible that they
can do justice to so large a number, more than 500 of whom
are in school at one time, and 400 of whom are in school but
three days a week

" There is another point to which I am anxious to direct
your attention. I have reckoned above that 200 boys will be
out of school daily. With the exception of those employed
in the tailors' and shoemakers' shops, and a few engaged with
the gardner, they aro under no control beyond the casual
superintendence which the governor is able to give them. The
time that should be devoted to industrial pursuits is frequently
utterly wasted, and what is intended to train them to indus-
trious habits becomes the readiest mode of familiarising them
to indolence.

" With your permission, I will suggest two methods by
which it appears to me the evil may be lessened, if not entirely
removed.

" First: A person may be appointed whose special duty it
shall be to superintend those boys taken from school for the
purpose of work, particularly such work as the sweeping of the
yards, carrying coal, cleaning windows, &c. ; or,
" Second: The number of schoolmasters may be so far in-
creased that one may be daily spared from the in-door work to
the required duty.
6, If the first course were adopted, the whole expense would
fall upon the parish. Should you think the second expedient, I
have no doubt it would meet the approval of the Committee of
Council on Education, who would then make a grant of the

" The establishment would be greatly benefited by a greater
nnmber of the boys being employed. Many boys, old and
strong enough to work, now come to school every day because
sufficient employment cannot be fonnd for them out of doors.

" Earnestly begging your consideration to these)points, I
have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient ser-

"HENRY J. STAGGER."

Mr GARDNER in moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings, remarked that a large number of children had
been sent to Industrial Schools, in consequence of the neces-
sity of removing them from the Workhouse, to make
arrangements for sick cases. He might also state that Mr.
Coates met those children in the most prompt manner, and
made arrangements which were most satisfactory to the
Committee. He trusted no ill effects would arise from over-
crowding, but he believed there would not, as room for
200 or 250 additional children could be made in the
School.

Mr. Moss said although he thought every attention should
be paid to the scholastic instruction of the children at the.
Schools, still, equal attention ought to be paid to inculcating
them in industrious habits, and bringing them up in the
knowledge of some trade likely to be hereafter useful.
Mr. GARDNER, : It is an Industrial School.

Mr. Moss : by name, but he hoped it was so in reality,
it was not so perfect as it might be, and the reason he formed
this opinion was to some little time since, when he was in
Ireland, seeing the Exhibition, he was perfectly surprised to
see the amount of beautiful work exposed for sale, the pro-
duct of various industrial schools, and schools connected
with Unions in :Ireland, so much so they were nearly self-
supporting ; why some of the work would have done credit
to some of the first artists of the day, in shoes and clothing.
It was a matter for serious consideration, whether 35 dozen.
of clogs should be purchased for the school, and some time
since it was suggested that the girls clothes should be put
out to be made. He (Mr. Moss), thought those were highly
objectionable proceedings, and that the time of those child-
ren which could be properly spared from school, should be
devoted to their instruction in necessary handicrafts. He
threw this out to the school committee, he believed they
were doing their duty; but a more perfect system might be
devised.

Mr. JOHN JONES would throw out another suggestion,
that Mr. Moss should come there and see the amount of in-
dustry.

Mr. GARDNER said if anything were suggested by Mr.
Moss, it would be attended to.
Mr. Moss : Set those children to work at the clogs. •
Mr. DE.yroN considered Mr. Moss's suggestion such a
very valuable one, that they ought not to be too hard
on him.

Mr. SWAGE whilst in Ireland found everything Mr. Moss
said to be perfectly correct. There were a great many
things produced in a superior manner, and if it were possible,
it was very desirable that they should adopt them. He did
not know the exact mode of introducing such things into
their schools.

Mr. CARNE confirmed what Mr. Moss said with regard to
Ireland. He was surprised to see the beautiful articles
manufactured in the Irish Unions. They certainly employed
their people better than we did here. They taught them
habits of cleanliness in their industrial duties. They taught
them to spin wool and flax into yarn, and those were things
which were not done here. Whether they could be done in
the Industrial schools he did not know, but it would be well
to try them. He often regretted there was not more
industrial work carried on in the Industrial schools.
Mr. BRADLEY was glad to hear this discussion. It would
bring the question into a practical shape ; there had been too
much attention paid to education, and not quite enough to
the departments alluded to. He hoped for the future, the
Committee would direct its particular attention to this, and
see if something of a useful nature could not be adopted.