Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-30 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee being read, Mr. Jones
moved their confirmation, and stated that one of their col-
lectors. had been suspended, and in order that they might
be regular in the case of legal proceedings, which they did
not apprehend, it would be well to
,move the following
special resolution :—" That all the cottage collectors of this
parish be required to deliver forthwith to Mr. Haggar all
books and papers, effects, property, matters, and things in
their possession and power belonging or relating to the
parish."
Mr Jackson seconded the motion, and said they should
have a complete audit of the accounts.
The motion was agreed to and the proceedings
confirmed.

TENDERS.
The followinc, tenders were accepted : —For salt, William
Smith, Upper 'Dawson-street, £l5 153, for six. months ;
for boots and shoes, Mr. Quinlan, £320, for six months.
Several tenders ware read for butter and milk, which were
transferred to the Workhouse Committee for apportionment
and acceptance.

THE TRANSFER OF MIL FIOLME3.
Mr. Jones rose to move, that the recommendation of
the Industrial Schools' Committee be adopted, in reference
to the transfer of the Rev. Mr. Holmes from the schools
to the workhouse as chaplain. He said it was an
. important question and involved considerations in
wo departments. (Hear, hear.) There were consider-
tatiOns at the schools which did not apply to the workhouse,
and there were considerations again at the workhouse, which
did apply, when they considered the state of the Industrial
Schools. The managers, of course, in each of these places,
would be the best judges as to the propriety, and any step
that might be taken that morning. The question had re-
ceived every attention at the hands of the schools' com-
mittee, and they almost unanimously recommended that
the change which he was now advocating should be made.
It was moved with the view of separating the offices of
chaplain and head master. He found that Mr. Holmes
was elected chaplain to the workhouse in 1851, and re-
mained so for four years, when he was transferred
to the schools in August, 1855, and he remem-
bered that, at the time of the transfer, the great
argument used against et was Mr. Holmes's effi-
ciency as a chaplain there, and the general sate.eeetioe that
be gave to the workhouse committee. In December, 1851,
Mr. Holmes was presented with a vote of thanks for ob-
taining situations for 28 boys, and he was brought up sub-
- sequently for interfering with the religion of seven boys,
but was exonerated from all blame in the matter. At
the instance of Mr. Bairstow, Mr. Haggar drew up a
minute, and so far as Mr. Holmes was concerned, it pre-
sented a very clean bill of health. It did appear somewhat
paradoxical to call upon the workhouse committee to accept
the services of a gentleman who had failed in another
department (hear, hear) ; but he would refer to the
circumstances under which Mr. Holmes was transferred.
It.was considered that the only means of correcting the
evils then existing in the schools was the transfer of Mr.
Holmes, who should there be invested with full authority,
and that the governor should be considered as head-
steward. Mr. Holmes's position was therefore completely
altered. From a simple chaplain he was converted into a
• chaplain, head-master, general superintendent, and super-
visor over the whole establishment.. Without attaching
any blame to the individual, a person might be fit and com-
petent to discharge one set of duties satisfactorily, and
not be quite as competent to discharge other duties ;
as Mr. Holmes, for instance, had proved an efficient
chaplain at that workhonse, while he failed in
his different capacities at the schools. But there
was divided authority as the schools arose, and diffi-
culties were put in Mr. Holmes' way. In a financial point
of view, it would not involve any considerable additional
outlay, and it would greatly benefit the schools. The £250,
which Mr. Holmes received as head-master, were refunded
to the parish by the government.
Mr. Jackson seconded the motion.
Mr. Cropper opposed the motion, and said that the vice-
chairman of the industrial schools had told them that there
were reasons why Mr. Holmes had failed at the sch 001.
The first was a want of temper. (Hear, hear.) The next
was inefficiency as head-master ; and the last was that there
had been divided authority. The first would apply in the
workhouse as well as iu the industrial schools. There were
many things occurring there that required a great deal of
patience, and temper, and discretion.
The Chairman said that the question of divided authority
was the original sore, and caused all the evil.
Mr. Cropper said it would involve them in an extra
outlay of £250 a year. Their last chaplain got a grant of
this amount, because they edged in a little instruction.
Mr. Jones said the difference would be only £5O, and
whatever alterations might be made the Government would
pay the difference.
Cries of " No, no," and " Nonsense."
Mr. Cropper contended that the difference would be £250
per annum,
and he did not see why Mr. Holmes was to get
£5O additional to what he had received when he was there
before. He moved, as an amendment, that the recommen-
dation of the workhouse committee, that a chaplain should
be advertised for, be adhered to.
Mr. Whitby seconded the amendment.
Mr. Peck said that no reason had been given by the
s;hools' committee for thistransfer, other than there had been
a signal failure on the part of Mr. Holmes, and he would
like to know how the person who bad so failed in this
department, would be so pre-eminently qualified to do duty
there. If Mr. Holmes had failed as head master, the course
was obviously to appoint a head master, and make Mr.
Holmes chaplain at the schools.
Mr. Jackson said he was astonished at his friend making
use of the aretienente in reference to the government. They
seemed desirous of continuing to get the money from the
government or, a mere pretest of work, which they knew
en their hearts was not done. lie thou ht the less that was
said about that the better. Let them pay the man for what he
was expected to do. lie advocated the transfer, and said
it was Obvious that Mr Holmes had the confidence of the
workhouse"committee when he was removed, and when he
was transferred to the schools he met with difficulties from
those who were the first to call upon him to perform the
duties.
Mr. Cropper said, as to the grant from Government, the
Government compelled them to keep Mr. Holmes, and he
thought they should therefore pay him
iqr. Denton said, in all honesty ,the chairman of the
schools coe-ee ittee ought to have given them the whole truth
the schools
Holmes as regards Mr. Hohnus's character, as head master of the
schools. It was a matter of exped,ien
mtrcol, and
committee: They found Mr. o.esY to
was aperson
whom they could not manage or e
they wished to foist Mr. Holmes's service therefore
made
Holmes,n o
andoi secretti the
Workhouse Committee. The committee
the fact that they could not manage Mr.
wished to transfer him to the Workhouse Committee, fore-
there !ie;wonld meet his match.. (Hear, hear, and laughter,)
They had no right to receive a character given by a work-
house committee four or five years ago. They knew nothirv,
of Hallos since he left that house further„.tkuankeVirtlhl whet
him at
cave from the Industrial Snehdo(o)lsoCcroomomdiwttieteh,
man away from us, we ea a e albs.
(Hear, hear.) them ce
It was not. a matter of £ s d, and in justice
to to the Workhouse committee they ought to give.
whole of Mr. Holmes' character, and let them know whether
he was a querrelsorne person and a fit person to recommend.
They liad.had to deal with very painful matters in connection
with the spiritual welfare of the inmates of that house, and
they had therefore a right to
enquire into the character of
the, erson coming into that house as chaplain. He (Mr.
Denton) had been on the workhouse committee for about
nine years, and he found Mr. Holmes to be a busy meddling
person, and they had a great deal of trouble with him, and