The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-12 00:00:00

WEST DEBBY UNION.

The weekly meeting of the guardians of this union
was held at twelve o'clock yesterday, in the West Derby
workhouse. The Rev. Mr. Bainall took the chair, and the
other guardians present, were—Messrs. Joseph Harrison,
Siddeley, Lunt, Baynes, Elias, Abrahams, Pickup,
Evans, Jobns, Greene, Watkinson, Whitby, Wilson, H.
Edwards, Wensley, Medcalfe, Shaw, Craig, I. Edwards,
Batten, and Johnson.

The following cheques for out-door relief were
ordered. Mr. Potts, £2OO ; Mr. Olney, £3O ; and Mr.
Ly t ligoe £22.
the dovernor, Mr. Gough, reported that the number
of paupers in the house this week was 688 • last week,
686 ; corresponding week last year, 728; admitted
during the week, 21 ; discharged, 17 ; born, 2 ; died,
4. Mr. Davis, master of the hospital, reported that the
number of patients there was, this week, 134 ; last week,
139'; corresponding week last year, 119; admitted
during the week, 18; discharged, 19 ; dead, 4.
In answer to a question from Mr. Whitby,
The Clerk said, the only township in arrear was
Toxteth park, which owed £1,392.
Mr. Whitby said, he could not account for the amount
of forbearance usually shown to Toxteth park.
Mr. Craig did not sae what the board could require
more than to get the money as they wanted.
Mr. Lunt : We want 4010 now, and you owe ns
£1,300.
Mr. Craig : Well, perhaps, we are ready to pay you
perhaps, we are not. (Laughter.)
A letter vies read from Mr. Mainwaring, poor law
inspector, casing attention to the overcrowded state of
the hospital, and suggesting measures to he taken for a
better arrangement. Mr. Mainwaring els) suggested
some amendations in the burial workhouse arrangements,
such as providing all the inmates, including the children,
with knives, as well as forks and spoons, at their dinners,
and the discontinuance of the practice of allowing two
adult male paupers to occupy the same bed.
The Clerk stated that, in consequence of that letter, a
special meeting of the visiting committee was held, at
which there was a very full attendance, and the following
resolution was adopted :—" Resolved that, in order to
provide further accommodation for sick paupers in the
workhouse, it be recommended that the present shed
occupied by the sick boys, and the workshop, be removed,
and a two story building erec'ed on the si!e thereof,
providing in the upper story a sick ward for paupers."
Mr. Siddeley moved that this recommendation be con-
firmed.

Mr. Shaw drew attention to another letter from Mr.
Mainwaring, in which that gentleman stated that he
would attend the meeting of the board on the 18th inst.,
to confer with the guardians relative to the propriety of
having Toxteth Park, in conjunction with some other
townships, withdrawn from that union, for the purpose
of forming a separate union. Mr. Shaw said it would
appear from that letter that the Poor Law Board were
about to grant the request of the guardians. The question
was, therefore, whither the house would not be sufficiently
large, was these townships withdrawn. The proposed
altera.ions would cost about £5OO at least, and be did
not think it was advisable to sDsnd the £5OO with the
probability of a s?paration from Toxteth Park. He there-
fore, moved that the recoil-ma-Wallop be postponed.
Mr. Edwards contended that the adoptio-i of rthe
recommendation was absolutely necessary. If the sepa-
ration were determined upon to morrow, it would take
two or three years before it could be carried out.
Mr. Whitby also supported the recommendation of the
committee.

Mr. Batten seconded Mr. Shaw's amendment. In the
peculiar circumstances in which they were placed, he
thought the outlay would be unjus'ifiable. They were
now on the eve of a very important change. It was quite
clear that in a short time the separation of the union
would be d:cided upon, or some other plan adopted for
lessening the great number of paupers in the house, and
he did not think that was a time to incur outlay for
additonal buildings. He thought it passible to make
some temporary arrangement for the present pressure of
sickness, which probably might diminish after a short
time.

Mr. Harrison supported the recommendation, stating
that, owing to the present crowded state of the hospital,
it frequently happened that two sick patients occupied
the same bed. The mortality at present was one per day.
Mr. Abrahams vehemently supported the recomtnea-
datirn, strongly condemning the present crowded stare,
and declaring that the patients were dying off at the rate
mentioned like rotten sheep.
Mr Luat detritd that any want of care 'Jr attention
whatever could be alleged, as regarded the hospital
arraogcpp of.the house. , -
The Chatrmanvaid he did not understand any gentle-
man to make any such charge. (Hear.)
Mr. Batten denied that the average of deaths was
greater than that of any similar institution. The
character of the house was greatly changed, and it was
made an hospital instead of a workhouse.
Mr. Shaw said many cases were admitted in the house
which ought to 'have been treated medically outside.
After some further and very desultory conversation,
the board came to a division, when there appeared
sixten in- favour of the committee's recommendation,
and four against. The recommendation was therefore
carried.

Mr Abraham moved that the whole of the inmates be
supplied with knives and forks. The motion was
carried. _

The board thin adjourned,