The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-01 00:00:00

GAOL COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee having been read,
Mr. BOLTON said he thought it necessary to allude to the
unsatisfactory manner in which the contracts were made for
the supply of bread to the prison. It appeared that the con-
tract had been made on the 20th of September, with Mrs.
Aldersy, who was the only competitor. The contract was
made at such prices that, if there had been competition, he
had no doubt the charge would have been twenty-five per
cent. lower. Instead of advertising be would recommend
that circulars should be sent round to the bakers, for, at
present, there was no practical competition. He mentioned
an instance of a proof which had been obtained on one oc-
casion of the charge for bread being too high, on the repre-
sentation of which Mrs. Aldersy agreed to take a farthing per
pound less. He was not inclined to disturb the existing con-
tract, but, in future, he would recommend the adoption of
the mode which he had proposed.
Mr. HOUGHTON said Mrs. Aldersy was the only one who
sent in a contract on the day in question, and that the prices
was after the market rate.
Mr. PROCTER said no system could be so good for the
purpose of ensuring impartiality and competition as that of
advertising. Circulars might be only partially sent, and thus
favouritism would be engendered, but an advertisement was
open to all.
Mr. HODGSON expressed a similar opinion.
Mr. BIRKETT said, the subject required investigation.
The paupers were maintained at less expense than the pri-
soners in the gaol.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES said, the council were much obliged

to Mr. Bolton for bringing the matter forward. The contract
was much higher than the articles could have been obtained
for in other places. He had called at the shop of Mr. Hick-
son, and found that the prices charged by Mrs. Aldersy were
much higher than those current at the time.
Mr. EVANS said, all contracts of this soft should go
through a committee of the council. The market price of
oatmeal on the day when the contract was made was 235.,
and it was charged 305., and it was well known, in the face
of an abundant harvest, that the corn market was falling.
The committee had amongst them some of the most acute
and intelligent mercantile men in the town : the corn market
was ever at hand, and they might have found out the current
price of corn in a moment, but they did not give themselves
the trouble. If they had been liable to be called to account,
as that council always was, such a contract would not have
been made. Without any investigation, they entered into a
contract, covering a half year, for one of the largest gaols in
the country, in which there were, on an average, seven
hundred prisoners, and that at a moment when there were
universal complaints of the parochial rates and other burdens.
He would take this opportunity of enforcing a principle. In
the former government there was a very great hankering after
depriving all councils of their power. A lunge was made at
this council to deprive them of the appointment of officers to
the Borough Gaol. He resisted this with his whole power,
and was one of a deputation to London on the subject, when
he found it extremely difficult to prevent the council being
placed in a situation to have nothing to do with their own
gaol but paying the expenses thereof. The council, chosen
as it was, was better to be trusted than an irresponsible body
like the magistrates. He hoped in future that contracts like
these, which were to be paid for by the money of the council,
would be left in the hands of the council through its com-
mittees. The council and the justices might become two
conflicting bodies, or the council might become much more
democratic than it was, and the two bodies might entertain
very different views. If the power were not placed directly
in the hands of the council, he hoped it would be understood
that the magistrates should make no contract that was not
subject to confirmation in that room. Mr. Evans concluded
by intimating that if this were not done, he should, at the
commencement of the next municipal year, be prepared to
move in the matter.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said that he was glad that Mr
Bolton had brought the subject forward, but as to any alte,
ration, he was afraid it was too late to amend the Reform
Act. No doubt there would be a wide distinction between
the two bodies, but there was no fear that they would not
agree. It would be observed, that the committee had or
dered a new fire-engine, and that, however necessary, he
thought was beyond their province.
The TOWN-CLERK explained the law relative to the ma-
nagement of the gaol. The only part that belonged to the
magistrates was the regulation of the gaol, with the condition
that they conld make no order for the payment of money,
It was only by the courtesy of the Council that it was at pre-
sent otherwise. There was some confusion in the gaol acts,
which made it convenient that the Committee of Justices
and of the Council should act together. On the 9th of No-
vember next it would rest entirely with the Council, under
the new circumstances, whether it would continue to associ-
ate in the management those of the jusfices who were not
councillors.
Mr. BUSHELL said he would just state to the Council, that
the cost of maintaining paupers was 2s. Id. per head, and of
maintaining prisoners 3s. 4d. per head. This showed either
that the gaol committee were not doing their duty, or that
the prisoners were too well fed.
Mr. YATES begged to ask where Mr. Bushell got that in-
formation.
Several members intimated, that the cost of maintaining
the prisoners was not so high as Mr. Bushell had stated.
Mr. BUSHELL said he had been furnished with the infor-
mation by Mr. Birkett.
Mr. Britxerr said he had received the information from
Mr. Houghton.
Mr. HOUGHTON said, that the sum mentioned included
the salaries of officers and all the charges of the gaol.
Mr. BIRKETT said no doubt the charge of 2s. Id. per head
for the paupers included the payment of officers too. (No,
no!)
Mr. EARLE said Mr. Birkett had given some information
to a gentleman who had made use of it, and when it was
sifted it turned out to be all wrong, as information from that
source frequently was. Such things made people look a lit-
tle foolish.
Mr. PLATT said Mr. Aspinall informed him that the dif-
ference between the prisoners and the paupers was not three-
pence a head.
Mr. BOLTON said the expense for prisoners was about
2s. 2d., and that for the paupers 2s. ld., which might be
accounted for, without reference to the high price paid for
bread, by the fact that many of the prisoners were young
people with good appetites, who would eat more than the
paupers, who were chiefly old people and children. ,
After some conversation on the propriety of suspending
the standing orders, the report was adopted, with the excep-
tion of that portion which relates to some rewards recom-
mended to the officers of the gaol for their exertions during
the fire, which were reserved till the meeting of the 9th No-
vember, in compliance with a standing order.
The proceedings of the Gardens, Courts of Law, and
Church Expenditure Committees were severally read and
confirmed.
WASH-HOUSES AND BATHS.
The proceedings of the Health Committee were read. It
was set forth, that the working classes had experienced great
comfort and convenience from the new wash-houses and
baths. Some increase was recommended in the charges for
the baths. It appeared that, from the 3d June to the 23d
September, the numbers of persons who had used the re-
spective baths were as follow :—cold baths 2150, hot baths
2358, private cold baths 300, private hot baths 113 ; total
4926. Receipts for the same, £57 2s. 11d.
Mr. BRIGHT opposed the increase of charges. The ex-
pense to the corporation was only £75 per annum more than
the receipts, and surely the corporation would not increase
the prices when the effect was so beneficial.
Mr. PARKER spoke highly of the baths as a great good to
the poor people, whose gratitude, when he called at the
establishment, it was quite delightful to see. He hoped they
would soon have one at the north end of the town, and
indeed one in every ward.
Some discussion ensued on the subject of the proposed ad-
vance of the prices, and at length it was agreed to refer the
matter back to the committee.
DOCK COMMITTEE.

.
The proceedings ot- the Dock Committee were read and
confirmed.

MEMORIALS.

The MAYOR presented a memorial from Mr. Wye Williams,
praying that a penalty of X5O, incurred by a party for not
consuming smoke, should be remitted.
The TOWN-CLERK said, the party was prosecuted and
pleaded guilty. The council had not the power to give up
the whole or part of any penalty.
The MAYOR presented a memorial, signed by several
passenger brokers, requesting that a by-law should be passed
for licensing the men whom they employ as runners. Re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.
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BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. J. N. WOOD asked the town-clerk whether be bad
seen the notice which the commissioners of Birkenhead had
given of their intention to apply to parliament for a new bill?
In that bill they proposed to expel the representatives of the
town-council of Liverpool from their body. The notice
would be published in the Chester paper of Tuesday.
The TOWN-CLERK said he would attend to this matter

THANKS TO THE MAYOR.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCEsaid the municipal year was now
terminated, and the avocations of the council for which it had
been elected were performed, and he hoped in a manner
highly satisfactory to the public. But they had one duty to
perform, and a grateful one it was—namely, to make their

acknowledgments to the chief magistrate for the manner in
which he had presided over them during his year of office.
They had to thank him for the zeal, ability, and honesty of
purpose which had characterised him throughout. His had
been a difficult position, but during the whole of the time he
had done nothing to cause him the least feeling of regret or
remorse. (Hear.) It must be a satisfaction and a gratifica-
tion to him to have the assurance which the council would
bear, that he had not made one enemy from first to last.
Mr. Lawrence then proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the
Mayor for the manner in which he had discharged the ardu-
ous duties of his office.

Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion, and it was unanimously
carried.

The MAYOR, in reply, said he could not but be highly
sensible of the compliment paid to him at the end of his
career, now happily terminated. Though he had received
every assistance from the individuals by whom he was sur-
rounded, he must confess that it was not an agreeable duty
to perform—he meant so far as his own feelings were con-
cerned. The assistance which he had received had rendered
his duties as little difficult as possible; and he assured the
council that he felt much gratitude for the feelings they had
expressed towards him.
The business of the council then terminated.