POOR LAW FRAUDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 314, 29 September 1908, Page 7

POOR LAW FRAUDS.

FURTHER CHARGES. POPLAR CUARDIANS ACCUSED. , CALCUTT AGAIN. (DT TELEGRAm—raESS ASSOCIATION—COPTBianT.) London, September 27. Soven Poplar Guardians and ex-Guar-dians wore charged at tho Thames Police Court with conspiracy to defraud tho Board of Managers of the Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum district. Thoy were remanded on bail. Tho prosecution allege that tho frauds were, conducted by allowing- James Calcutt, a builder, to effect repairs to the Blackwall branch of the asylum at his own unchecked prices. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD REPORT. Calcutt is the contractor who was sentenced to six months', imprisonment in connection with the Mile End frauds. Nine Poor Law Guardians and ex-Guardians of Mile End are now undergoing terms of imprisonment ranging from two' years to six months. c. As long ago as 1906 Mr. Davy, Chief Inspector of the Local Government Board, reported in strong terms on the administration of the Poplar Guardians. • He condemned the Labour policy of the Guardians, while pointing out that there was no charge against the personal integrity of the Labour leaders, Messrs. Crooks and Lansbury.' The Chief Inspeotor also reported:— "The practice of the guardians drinking with their binders is open to much objection. Tho evidence as to contracts leaves_ little doubt that certain contractors were assisted in their tenders by someone from inside. It might be worth an employer's while to pay tho heavy rates in ' Poplar, because a reserve of cheap and convenient labour was maintained out of those rates upon which he could draw when he pleased. Out-relief not only perpetuates the system of casual labour, but tends to keep wages down. ,The guardians' policy has never been concealed. It is contended that tho electors endorsed that, policy, but in 190.4 thero 'were contests, in only six wards out of fourteen, and in these only 5523 voted, out of 13,573. "Mr.- Lansbury's point of view may be fairly represented 'by saying that he con-, sidered himself as an advocate of a policy first and a representative of the ratepayers afterwards." It was for the guardians wisely and justly to administer the law, and not to use the money of the ratepayers to "redress social inequalities." "In improving the condition of the aged and infirm workhouse inmates, the Poplar guardians have done -no more_ than many other boards of guardians. The evidence suggests that in later years the guardians deliberately increased their expenditure with a view of making it-evident that additional contributions from tho rates-of the whole metro-: polis were an absolute necessity for tha Poplar district.":