Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-23 00:00:00

TIIK WORkHOVSZ COMMITTSE.

From the minutes of the proceeding; of this committee,
it appeared that on the 16th instant there were 1,964
inmates in the Workhouse. The number of sick were
513, inAuding 27 fever, and 18 itch cases. The number
of vagrants was 399, including 253 men, 95 women, and
51 ehiithen. The number cf children in the industrial
schools on tho same date was 908. This committee
recommended the appointment of a sub-committee, for
the purpi-se of ex4mining end seeing that all the articles
supplied by contract to the Workhouse were equal to tbe
samples sent in with the tenders.
Mr. SHAW, in moving that tho proceedings of the com-
mittee be confirmed, proposed that Mr. Gibson should be
added to the special sub-committee.

I,lr. BARSTOW objected to the appointment of any such
committee, on the grounds that it was the duty of the
offi?ers to see that the g lola supplied were equal to the
samples sent in, and expressed it as hie opinion that the
members of it would be placed in an invidious position, as
they would have to come in contact with the tiadessaen of
the town, which was no part of their duty.
Mr. SHAW considered that the appoin-ment of such a
committee was very necessary, as it was impossible that
the officers cauld have a k, owlegige of all the articles used
in the house, and he did not believe that Mr. Bairstow
himself knew much about flsnnel or cloth, much less
about physic (Laughter.) •
Mr. WHITTY thought that the appointment of suea a
committee was very desirable Abut two Tars ago a
similar committee had b>-en appointed, and he thought
that it was then in exi-fence For his part he did not see
that there was anything in Mr. Bairstow's objection as to
eomirg in contact with the tradesmen. They had a duty
to perform to the ratepayers, and he did not see there was
any more obje ttion in comparing the samples as a special
committee, or in doing it as v:sito-s.
Mr. GIBsoN supp )tted the appointment of the committee,
and said there would be no difficulty in carrying out the
objects, as the samples were so arranged in the store-
room that they had only to go and compare them, and any
person with eyes could see if they correspo-e'ed. He
would not object to serving on the committee, although he
had (pee enough to attend to, and thought that Mc
Bmitb, who had retired from busines, should have been
selected.

Mr. B4IRTIOW thought the appointment cf such a com-
mittee implied a want of confidence in their officers, and
he thought that the Vestry had better at onco move a vote
of want of confidence in their officers, for it was clearly
their duty to see that the articles supplied were squ'l to
the samples. _

Mr. BnAw denied that there wag Emy:warat of confi-
dent.e.

Mr. Wiirrry said it Wag impossible that officers could
be acquainted with every particular article that came into
the house. How could it be imagined that Mr. Cr.rr
could be acquainted with the quslity of medicine or drugs.
After some further desultory conversation, the p-oceed-
irgs were confirmel, and the committee was appo nted.

TIM INDUSTRIAL SCEIOOLS.

From the proceedings of this committee it appeared that
'they had had under consideration tho snh;ect of getting
snore of the blys to volunteer into the 9ch regiment of
foot. Ten of the boys had volunteered, but the relatives
of seven of them had o'jected to their tiling so, and the
committee reclmmended, that after the expiration of three
months, ttie re'ativea of such boys should support them,
or find them some employment.
Mr. CHUM •vished to know .if the Vestry had the
power of turning boys out of the schools, if they did not
enlist for soldierA.

Mr. nIVEN moved the confirmation of the proceedings, and
in eluding to the resolution, with reference to the boys, said
that they were all of an age to provide for themselves, and
bad volunteered to enlietrbut that the relatives of seven of
them had been consulted and they had objected to it, and
therefore, the committee having dens) all they could to
find theta employmeat, had thought it right to call upon
snch relatives to provide far them.
Mr. CanerEv said some of the poorer classes had a great
objection to their children enlisting in the iztng, and
requested that the ages of the boys be read over.
Mr. BAIRS row said they were between fourteen and
Steen years old, and it was not likelj that the army would
be troubled with such boys except as trtunpeteeg. They
would not be wanted for fighting—only to blow the trnm-
Pel•
Me. Cuss NZT We'l,"now, you have bloomed your trum-
pet (Laughter.)
The CLERK then read over the names of the lads, from
which it appeared that the first three were respectively
aged 13, 13, and 1,5, but these had no relatives or friers-is,
and the other seven, Nihon friends had objected to their
volunteering, were respectively 14, 13, 14, 13, 14, 14, and
13 years of age.
Mr. WilliTY said he did not agree with the recommen-
dation of the School Committee. He did not think it was
right, beesue the relatives of these boys had objected to
their enlisting into the army, that they should be called
upon to suppnt them. They had no right to cmpel
the boys to enter the army as a profession for the rest of
their lives. He knew there was a great objection amongst
the lower and working classes to have their children go
for soldiers, and he could not see why they should be COOl-
- to do it. They had a claim for support on the
parish, and he could not see, because the relatives objected
to their enlisting, that they shoniti be turned adrift.
However patriotic sane persons might be. he objected to
it, and moved, as an amendment, that that portion of the
proceedings be referred back to the committee for recon-
sideration.
Mr. Cues:sae seconded the amendment. •

11uotuts sa;t3, if they were ont of the so.bools, there
would be nothing t) prevent the boys from enlisting, but
while they were there they were cunfirAe3, and prevented
from doing so.
The CuattaaN said: It had been amerted that they were
compelled to support these children after they were able
to provide fur themselves. That he denie4 altogether.
They were not cornpellet to .support children after they
could support themselves. He Ilion& that after they
had ben provided with an ocmpation, and the relatives
objected to it, that they should be called upon to ktep
them themselves, and not call upon the ratepayers to
do so.

Mr. CHZSICZT wished to hnom it children of 13
years of age had the power of electing what they would
be _ _ _

Mr. Btrnsrow did not agree with the sentimentality
shown by some psople, when talking of the poor. some
objected to their being sent into the coal pits to get a
living—some to their being chimney sweeps' and what he
wanted to know teas —what ware they do with the children ?
Were they to make them all gentlemen ? were they to
make them clergymen and attorneys? If they were not
to find some occa2ation for them, what was to become of
them
A VasTuTmkx : Rend them to the grocer's. (Laughter.)
Mr. Wurrrr said he had seen some of the boys that
had been sent into the army return, and had to be sup-
ported out the rates ; but not so much se in other cases,
where they had been put to a mechanical business. He
objected to the boys being sent to enlist into the army,
because ho knew that their relatives had a reat objection
to it.

Mr. Owalts rcpl'ed, and said he did not agree with the
morbid sentimentality evinced against the bu 3 s going into
the army. They had d•,ne all they could to find them
employment, and it it did not snit the relativeP, why they
meat maintain them themselvei.

Mr. WHIM : That ig 3 our courtesy.
Mr. CIIESNZT : I call it tyranny.
The Bard then divided, when the orginal mo`ion was
tarried, only three persons voting for the amendment.