The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-25 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1868.

TH

church until now imposed upon it—accomplishing
this great and beneficent object first of all by attend-
ing to the task of its disestablishment, and after-
wards to that of its disendowment. Simultaneously
with the preparation of this comprehensive and be-
nignant measure, this just and generous measure in
regard to Ireland, Ministers have within their
view now for the amelioration of the sor-
rows so fearfully rife among the lowliest classes of
all throughout the United Kingdom, the design of
revising as speedily as possible the -whole system of
organisation in regard to the administration of poor
law relief. The furtherance of national education,

the mitigation and if possible the diminution of pau-
perism, the sweeping altogether away of the Irish
Church Establishment—these are among the evi-
dences of " goodwill" now preparing for the people,
on the part of the Legislature, and on the part
of the Government. Meanwhile, in further-
ance abroad of the interests of Peace, we
arc being gladdened at this moment in the
midst of our Christmas festivities—most oppor-
tunely, too, in the midst of the otherwise alarming
tidings of an actual collision between the armaments
of Greece and Turkey—with news of the probability
of a Grand Congress being holden, as we earnestly
trust it may be holden, among the representatives of the
great Powers of Christendom! A Congress at which not
only some pacific solution may just possibly be found
at last for the complicated problem familiarly known
to the world at large as the Eastern Question, but
from the deliberations of which Congress there may
not unreasonably be looked for still further some
practicable proposition for a simultaneous diminu-
tion of the stupendous armaments now weighing so
disastrously upon the peaceful energies of the great
nations of the European continent

MISCELLAN EOUS NEWS.

purpose, besides X 25,000 expended, in building
houses. From these outlays, no doubt, re-
turns will come in time if that is any
consolation to the present generation of share-
holders. During 200 days of the past year special
attractions for visitors had been provided at an out-
lay of £30,000. This seems a heavy cost, but as
these special days brought in a clear profit of £32,000,
the outlay was worth risking. On 109 days without
any special attractions, they made a profit of only
£B,OOO. The special attractions are to be continued, and
the chairman, amid much laughter, stated that they
had had an offer of Wombwell's menagerie to fill up
the unoccupied space occasioned by the late fire.
Looking to the very large business done by the
Zoological Gardens in London, Mr. Hughes seemed
to think that " a wild beast show" would not be
amiss at Sydenham, as certain to draw large numbers
of visitors. An aquarium and a swimming bath
were suggested to the meeting as likely to add to the
attractiveness of the Palace, and in all probability
the suggestion will be carried out.

THE MASTER AND SERVANTS ACT AND THE
FARMER S.

Is a farmer a "master workman:" Is a farm
labourer an artificer or labourer within the meaning,
of English law ? Became, if so, the farmer is under
the same Act (the Master and Servants') as the manu-
facturer. The point was raised in a magistrates'
court near Wexford a day or two back. The com-
plainant, a farmer, charged a fellow farmer with
employing a servant already bound to him. The man,
it was stated,was undergoing punishment for breaking
his contract. And it was also sought to punish the
defendant for employing the man. The law provided
for this in the terms " master workman " and
" artificer and labourer." The defendant contended
that a farmer was not a " master workman."
The magistrates, however, didn't see it, and
punished the farmer by inflicting a fine
of £5. But here another difficulty arose:
the defence pointed out that none of the justices
present could adjudicate, for it was enacted that " no
master in the particular trade concerning which any
offence is charged to have been committed shall act
as a justice therein." The justices present were
farmers. However, the magistrates determined to
• " take the responsibility," and allowed the conviction.
now. TO 'HELP WORKING MEN TO EMPLOYMENT.

A sensible- suggestion appears in the Standard in
the shape of a letter, pointing out how greater facilities
might be given for helping unemployed men to find
work. The writer points out that in Italy and other
parts they have establishments called the "Working
Man's Exchange." This is a central depot, of which
there is one in all large towns, where unemployed
workmen assemble every morning, and to which em-
ployers of labour generally resort when in need of
assistance, skilled or unskilled. In London this Arrange-
ment is partly acted upon as in the cases of " houses
of call " and similar contrivances ; but it is carried out
in a very desultory manner, and nothing has yet
been done to meet general requirements. In so
large a place as the metropolis more than one depot
of the kind just spoken of would be required,
and a complete system of registration of workmen
and their wants would save time to both
employers and those seeking employment, while it
might do away with much wearisome waiting on the
part of workmen and labourers who may be expected
to support the " Exchanges." A previous corre-
spondent had suggested the establishment of a
National Labour Depot, but the difficulty in the
way of entertaining this idea is, that workmen them-
selves have very often no means of paying for their
transport from one town to another, and few
employers of labour, it is feared, would be ready to
listen to the proposition that they should advance
funds for that purpose.
DR. STALLARD ON PAUPERISM.
This gentleman has written a letter to the Times
referring to his recent paper on pauperism. Much
may be done, he thinks, by the institution of a full
inquiry into the subject by a loyal Commission. Ile
cites among the reasons which have reduced the
number of paupers in workhouses, the lessening of
the accommodation on account of the Poor-law
Board insisting on more cubic space being given,
and the change in the class of persons now ad-
mitted. At present nearly all the. persons found in
the workhouses are aged and infirm. The term
" relief in aid of wages". may be applied to
the small sums given, by means of which
thousands exist at the East-end of London on a very
reduced amount of wages. This difficulty, however,
is too extensive to be met by the workhouse test.
Dr. Stallard would refer the subject of charity
to the commission on pauperism and poor laws.
There has been an increase of 52 per cent.
in the number of patients attended at twenty-two
public hospitals in London during the last four
years, and the number has also been augmented
in dispensaries and workhouses. As for the question
of providing work, Dr. Stallard thinks it so compre-
hensive that he cannot expect to do more than make
suggestions on the matter. He advocates the imme-
diate discontinuance of such occupations as grinding
cranks and wheeling gravel, and believes that a
great success would be gained if the commission
effected nothing more than the discovery of a
method whereby we might deal with the able-
bodied poor.