The Haslingden Gazette. — 1907-03-23 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

THE HASLINGDEN WORKHOUSE. HEM ARKARLB ALLEGATIONS. A SOCIALIST VIEW.  " THINGS REVOLTING AND VILE."  'Lent Sunda' afternoon was spent by the Social• ists of Accrington in advocating the clainie of their candidatre for the guardians' eleotions. The alerting took plane at the Socialiet Nall, Bull Bridge, Mr. J. Sutcliffe presiding. The Chairman, in hie opening remarks, ssserted that among the chief things to be remedied at Pike Law Workhouse wee the lamentable state of affahm in the infirmary. They ought to give a ineed of praise to the stern fight that Miro Higham had wade on that question. She received the otorurst opposition from her can party, and it passod his comprehension that she had put her name to a joint address with persons who were opposed to her on the workhouse iefirmary question. Referring to a visit he had paid to the workheu.se, Mr. Butoliffe said the things cue saw at the infinnery were of the most revolting and vile character. The titionamodation was most atrocious, and the ventilation would not be allowed .n any other place. There was lack of separation, and there were filthy omens, and these things were abominable. Many who professed te be guardians of the peer wore not guardians of the poor, and their only object was to guard the poor cite. The poor needed more kindly, sympathetic, and more just treatment at the hands of the guardia.ne. The conditions under which the children were reared, and the continuous servile method under whisk they wore brought up, was rearing peepers and nothing else. When they grew up they would never have any backbone. Referring to the Board of Guardians -"everting to the two days' system for vagrants, he described it as treatment which ought not to b, meted outi to animals, let alone human heisge. .  Mrs. P. IL Taylor -declared that the workhouse eught to be called a house thav breeds despals. It was distressing to go through the lunacy wards. The lunatics were all in a lump. There was no classification. Those who might be cured had to he with thou° who were incurable. If the 70 or 80 lunatics at the workhouse were removed, it would provide plenty of room for others. It would be better if the County Council or some other authority took that matter up, and provided proper lunatio asylums where these lunatics could have specialists to lock after them. She thought that out-relief should be given on a generous scale, so that old persons could live with their friends; and infirmaries or cottages should be provided in the country for the old people who had no friends to live with, end have a committee to look after them. The Socialists wanted the best of everything for the poor. It was distressing to see the children at the workheuse, because they were mankind in the making. It was worse than murdering them. Anything that was spirited and noble was killed or stunted by the training the children received in the workhouse. When they were grouped together as at the Haslingden Workhouse, what could they expect from the degrading influences? The children should either be brought out or cottage homes should be provided for them. They should have a skilled trade put in their hands. Mr. Bolton, one of the candidates said when he went through the wards at Pike Law Workhouse with Mr. Sutcliffe he was amazed. He saw sights that he did not think possible in a Christian country. It was a burning sl-ame that children should be put in the position they were put in at the workhouse. It was so easy Walter these things if they would try, but they would not try. Thirty or forty vagrants were waiting to go into the wretched bathroom. If elected ho would try to be a Guardian of the poor and not of the rates. Never mind economy and that sort of thing. They oould have nothing without paying for it, and if they could do anything for the poor, never mind where the money came from. There was plenty of money in the land, and let them use it for themselves.  would  Mr o Heaton Barnes, another candidate, said the Guardians would trouble more over a farthing rate than over human life. The Liberal party was a most bigoted party. Councillor Ward. of Blackburn, also addressed the meeting.