MILE END GUARDIANS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1908, Page 5

MILE END GUARDIANS.

THE ALLEGED FRAUDS.

By telegraph.— Press A«soo\ation.— Copyright. (Received May 23, 8.36 a.m.) LONDON, 22nd May. Eight of the Mile End guardians and two ex-guardians are charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting James Calcutt, builder, in making ' excessive charges and ignoring the auditor's warning protests.

Calcutt recently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months', imprisonment.

At a Local Government Board enquiry into the finances of the Mile End guardians the Inspector said that £197 had been surcharged at the audit for the half-year ended Lady Day, 1906, on 11 guardians. It was a. portion of a payment made to Mr. Calcutt, the contractor, who was paid Is 6d per square yardfor work, although the architect for tho gudrdians had certified tho work at Is. The auditor had disallowed the difference. A second amount of £116 was for coal surcharged on five guardians, who authorised the payment by signing the cheque. This was part of an amount paid to Mr. Joseph Cade, the contractor for steam coal, the guardians accepting a tender for 18s 6d per ton in preference to a tender from a responsible firm for 16s per ton. v

There was also the occupancy by the guardians since 1899 of certain houses, 25 in numbed, as homes for pauper children. During tho year ending Lady Day, 1906, the sum of £2258, or £86 per house, was spent for repairs and various works, some of which work had been of an extravagant character, porcelain baths, for instance, at £18 to £20 each.

Mr. Elvey Robb, who appeared for tho Stepney Ratepayers' Union, 'said as regards tho coal contract, the saving which might have been effected on coke alone in one year was £81 18s. The most serious subject, however, was that of the scattered homes for pauper children. Two of them had been bought for £300 each and sold to the guardians for £600. Out of 16 houses, 15 were leased by persons directly or indirectly connected with the board. An average of £75 a year had been spent on each house, and £500 had been spent oa one house. For two and a-half yards of ordinary common white-glazed tiles, worth 13s a yard, £6 11s 7^d was paid, while as for the infirmary, for the painting, white-washing, and varnishing of one- ward (for which the .estimate was about £80) the sum charged was £221 15s 4d.