The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-13 00:00:00

BOARD.

Mr. DISRAELI rose to call attention to the conduct of
the Poor Law Board with reference to the High Wycombe
Union. The right hon. gentleman said he hoped the house
would not be unwilling to grant their attention to the
question on the ground that it was one of purely local in-
terest. He could assure them it was one of general interest
—nay, of universal interest, for it concerned every board
of guardians in the kingdom. In the case which he
was about to submit to the house, it appeared to him that
there had been great and most injurious neglect. He
would not say that he had not formed an opinion as to the
body to whom that neglect should be attributed ; but at
the same time he was anxious in all candour to afford the
Poor Law Board the fullest opportunity of entering into
such explanations as would remove the great discontent
and indignation which existed in a very considerable dis-
trict. The union to which his observations would apply
consisted of thirty parishes, and contained a population
exceeding 35,000. The union hoiise was situated at a place
called Sanderton ; and at six or seven miles off, at a place
called Bledlow, there was the union school. Within the
last two years a person named Stallwood was appointed
master and his wife matron of the union school. Stall-
wood was apparently a man most qualified for the post ; he
was a person of fair fame, of very good abilities, and of
considerable ability in the administration of the poor law.
Still occurrences took place in the union school which
could hardly have been expected under the efficient system
of inspectorship which he admitted. At the beginning of
the present year a rumour got afloat that very great bar-
barities had been practised upon a boy in the union school.
So strong was the feeling in the neighbourhood that
the mother of the boy referred to obtained her dis-
charge from the Sandorton Union, and went over to
Bledlow. On the following morning she obtained an
audience of the chairman and some of the chief guar-
dians, and in consequence of the communications she made
to them they caused a general meeting of the guardians
to be held at Bledlow. Upon that occasion the matter of
the tyrannical and cruel punishment of the boy was gone
into, as also the cases of several of his companions who
had been treated with extraordinary cruelty—evidence
being taken down from the boys' own mouths. It came
out-at the examination that these acts of cruelty, that these
severe punishments on the part of the master, were rather
influenced by a desire to establish a system of terrorism
than through a desire merely to practise cruelty. It seemed
that the boys had heard rumours of the indecent conduct
of the master towards female paupers who were inmates of
the institution, and were under the direction of the matron.
It appeared that periodically this thing was talked of among
the boys ; and that thereupon the master had recourse to
punishment of a most outrageous character, even to placing
knives at the boys' throats with a view of terrifying them,
and suppressing their conversation. This led to a further
investigation, and it became necessary to examine the girls
of the school. The result was to establish a course of pro-
fligacy of the most heinous description against the master,
extending, too, over a long period of time. However, it was
not necessary to go into any further details, as there was
no controversy between the board of guardians and the
central authority as to the nature and character of the of-
fences of the master. Both agreed thathis conduct had been
most profligate and indefensible. Nor could it be said that
the evidence against Stallwood was ex parte, for he was
present throughout, and was permitted to say what he liked.
However, in general ho kept a strict silence, and contented
himself with affirming that the boys wore telling lies. The
board of guardians were of opinion that the evidence should
be forwarded immediately to the central authority, and that
they should Lb° asked to send down some one to inves-
tigate the case. For himself, ho believed it would have been
better if the guardians had acted with more decision, and
had brought the man before a magistrate, and had him
committed for trial. However, that was not a view which
could be urged by the central board in London, for they
never acted upon it. At the same timo the absolute autho-
rity of boards of guardians was very slight compared with
the importance of the duties which they administered. For
example, they had no authority to dismiss a subordinate
officer. But a short time previous to the transaction to
which he was now referring this very board had dismissed
an officer who had behaved in a very improper manner,
and'they were at once reminded by the central board that
they had no authority to do so. These events were re-
garded in that part of the country with great alarm and
dissatisfaction. A week elapsed, and, at the next meeting
of the guardians at Sanderton, it was found that no answer
had arrived from the Poor Law Board. A letter, however,
awaited them from Mr. Harold Stallwood, the schoolmas-
ter, whose conduct had been so impunged, who resigned
his office on the plea of the illness of his wife, and who re-
quested the guardians to give him a general certificate of
good conduct. Well, the board was in a very embarrass-
ing position. No answer had come from London, and they
therefore determined not to accept the resignation of this
man, but they informed him that he was from that moment
suspended from his office. Without delay they despatched
covd
a letter to the central board stating the course they had
a edipete
dt.o thTehliestwtears. ownotwhtehe2Ogutha,
rbdivatnnobeasinsdwesersuwspeasnrd
ine--
• g this man from his office, appointed :committee of their
own body to visit the schools at Bledlow daily, and to
report on the state of affairs at the next meeting of the
guardians, which would be held on the 27th. Before
that day, however, the Poor Law Board, without
replying to either of the letters of the Board of

Guardians, sent down the Poor Law Inspector of the dis-
trict, Mr. Kaye, who proceeded to Bledlow, and there on
his own authority and responsibility directed Harold
Stanwood, the master, and his wife the matron, to give
him written and unconditional resignations of their
offices. He afterwards either casually or by agreement
attended a meeting of the committee of guardians, and
told them that the whole affair was at an end, as the
offices of Stanwood and his wife were vacant. He gave the
written resignation to the committee, who handed them to
the Board of Guardians at their next meeting. Before ad-
verting to what then took place, he (Mr. Disraeli) would
make a few remarks on the conduct of the Poor Law In-
spector. Now he gave that gentleman full credit for hav-
ing been actuated by good motives—but it should be re-
membered that the best motives were often most erroneous
in point of policy, and the present case was certainly no
exception to that principle. Mr. Kay possibly may have
thought it best to hush up so disgusting and offensive an
affair. Now, hushing up a private scandal might be an
act of wisdom or of charity, and an act of charity was ge-
nerally an act of wisdom ; but when a scandal is a public
one, the act is of a very different kind. It was indeed a
very foolish act, because enough was always known of a
public scandal to attract a great deal of attention ; and,
unless the matters be investigated, they assumed in the
popular imagination more horrid features than they really
possessed. In the present case it might be said that the in-
spector may have thought that the evidence against Stall-
wood was not strong enough to secure his conviction by a
jury ; but, however this might be, how could the central
board justify their conduct in acting contrary to the Board
of Guardians, who would not acceptthe resignations ? How
could they justify their conduct in recommending the re-
signation of the schoolmaster and his wife ? The moment
Stallwood's resignation was accepted neither the board of
guardians nor the central board had any authority over
him, and he might at some future time, when the circum-
stances of this case had been forgotten, or at some place
where he was unknown, be elected to hold some office
under the Poor Law Board. The central authority by
accepting the resignation absolutely freed him from the
only penalty which he could incur if he were not pro-
secuted for his heinous conduct. Well, under these cir-
cumstances, the Board of Guardians met for the third
time on the 27th of February. In the first place a
new charge had been made against Stanwood. A
young woman, one Anne Allen, who was about to leave
the Union House at Sanderton, paying her farewell visit
to the master and matron communicated to them that she
was in the family way, and that the father of the impending
child was the schoolmaster at Bledlow, where she had been
a pauper pupil some years before. She stated that the in-
timacy commenced at that time, and had since been re-
newed. This evidence was taken down in writing, and it:
was determined to send it immediately to the central board,
from whom they had not as yet received any letter. (Hear.)
The next business was to receive the report of the commit-
tee, but they refused to accept that report, and protested
against their conduct in confirming the resignations of the
schoolmaster and his wife. They then sent a third letter to
the Poor Law Board, and made another earnest appeal for
advice and instructions. At last they received an answer.
It was dated Whitehall, March 4, and informed them that
the acceptance of Stallwood's resignation by the guardians
was not necessary to give legal effect to it, and that, as Stall-
wood was no longer responsible as officer either to the guar-
dians or to the central board, the board could take no steps
in regard to his alleged misconduct. A very strong feeling
of indignation was aroused by this communication, which
seemed to terminate the business. However, the matter
was subsequently mentioned in the house, and he believed
the board of guardians passed a resolution that they looked
upon it as altogether unsatisfactory, and they informed the
Poor Law Board that they should consult their represen-
tatives and take their advice as to the best course they
ought to pursue in order to obtain redress ; and he did not
see why men should have members of Parliament if such
incidents as this were to be allowed to take place with im-
punity and silence. On the 15th or 20th March a letter was
written to the clerk to the board of guardians, and it was
written in such a way as if no previous communication on
the subject had taken place. In this letter the guardians
were referred to the several statutes bearing on the offence in
question, and were directed to take such legal proceedings
against Stallwood as they might deem necessary under the
circumstances. Such were the facts which he had occasion
to bring before the house, and he could only say that the
amount of indignation which had been visited upon the
guardians of Wycombe had made them anxious that the
matter should be laid before the house. What they com-
plained of was, first of all, that their letters of the 14th and
20th, when they sent up the evidence they were able to
produce, had never been noticed at all ; secondly, that the
poor law inspector, without conferring with the guardians
or clerk, went down to the place and occasioned the resig-
nation of Stanwood; and, thirdly, for informing the guar-
dians in the letter of the 4th of March that no proceedings
could be taken in the matter, and then by the letter of the
15th of March informing them that they might prosecute
the man, and offer if necessary a reward for his apprehen-
sion—which was very necessary, for Stallwood had long
ago absconded. At the present moment things were in
such a state that no proceedings could be carried on, and
when after a while the witnesses were scattered, and the
facts of the case were partly forgotten. Stallwood might
appear without the slightest stain upon his character as a
public servant who had resigned his situation, and there-
'fore there was no reason why he should not again be em-
ployed as a relieving officer or in some other capacity.
Having read an extract from a letter written by an inmate
of the workhouse, on his own behalf and on behalf of the
other inmates, praying that justice might be done in the
matter, and for protection against such offence; the right
hon. gentleman concluded by moving for the copy of a let-
ter from the Poor-law Board signed H. Fleming, and dated
March 4, 1865. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. VILLIERS justified the course pursued by the cen-
tral board as consistent with the law and practice. The
papers, on their receipt from the guardians, were the same
day transmitted to the inspector of the district, who in
four days afterwards had the man before him, told him the
nature of the charge against him, that an investigation
would take place, and that he must attend and defend him-
self, or admit his guilt and retire from his situation. That
was the course laid down by the law, and that was the
limit of the duty of tho central board. They were to see
that no unfit or improper person remained in any office in
a union ; whilst the proceedings for the punishment of the
offending person were entirely in the hands of tho guar-
dians. In this instance a committee of the guardians in-
vestigated the case, the master gave in his resignation un-
conditionally and absolutely, and the committee -made no
objection. With regard to the conduct of the inspector,
he was satisfied that he had acted from the best of mo-
tives, and, indeed, he could have had no object in dOing
otherwise.

After this explanation the motion for the production of
the letter was withdrawn.

In reply to a question of Mr. COX, relating to the dis-
graceful proceedings which have lately taken place on
Sunday evenings in the Upper-street, Islington,
Sir G. GREY stated that, in order to prevent their re-
currence, the number of policemen doing duty on the spot
had been increased to six.

The house then went into committee of supply, and
agreed to several votes for the civil service.

On the vote of £9,500 towards completing the Nelson
Monument in Trafalgar-square,
Sir-W. FRASER inquired when the work of completion
was likely to take place,

Mr. COWPER once more repeated the old story that
Sir Edwin Landseer had finished the cast of one of the
lions, and that it would soon be reproduced in metal.
The remaining three would, ho hoped, be speedily
finished.

Among the votes agreed to was one of £lO,OOO, being a
contribution towards the maintenance of the Metropolitan
Fire Brigade.

The Customs and Inland Revenue Bill passed through
committee.

The Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Bill, the Local Govern-
ment Supplemental (No. 4) Bill. the County of Sussex Bill,
and the Ecclesiastical Leasing Act (1858) Amendment Bill
were read a second time.

Tho house adjourned at 10 minutes past 12 o'clock.

The Metropolitan Board of Works.

Tho usual meeting of the Board was hold yesterday at
the offices in Spring-gardens.

FINANCE.

The cash statement for the current week shows a total
general balance of X 459,919.
The Main Drainage Committee, recommended that the
sum of £lO,OOO be granted to tho engineer and his three
assistants in recognition of their services in connexion with
the main drainage works.
The consideration of the report was adjourned.
THE STATE OF LEICESTER-SQUARE.

A report from the medical officer of health of the parish of
St. Martin-in-the-Fields on the condition of Leicester-
square was referred to the Streets Committee. The report
was as follows :—" I have several times since the hot
weather commenced observed the state of Leicester-square.
On the 17th of April I saw within the railings three dead
cats, two dogs, a hare, and a cod's head, all in a putrefying
state. There was also a large heap of decomposing vege-
table matter, and a collection in a newspaper of what ap-
peared to myself and to the watermark-the emptying of a
close-stool. During the summer I think somebody should
have authority to remove offensive matter from the square
at least once a week, or we shall have nuisances established
which may be injurious to health. Since writing the above
I saw yesterday the remains of four dead animals, two being
cats, and the others too much decomposed to be distin-
guished. One body was close to the railings, and so dis-
gusting that a delicate person passing might
.be made sick
at the sight ; and in hot weather this -would in many cases
induce diarrhoea, so that it is no exaggeration to say that
the condition of Leicester-square is s nuisance andinju-
rious to health."

THE HACKNEY CARRLIGE DUTIES.
An application made by the Chairman of the Board to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer for a portion of the metropo-
litan hackney-carriage duties to ber applied to metropolitan
improvements was refused.
It was notified to the Board that the Wimbledon-park
Bill had been withdrawn.

Tho routine business was dispose() of, and the Board
adjourned.