IN ROLE OF VAGABOND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1925, Page 2

IN ROLE OF VAGABOND

OLITTCIArfS INQUIRIES

In order to obtain first-hand experience of life in the casual ward of a workhouse, Frank Gray, formerly member of Parliament for- 'Oxford City and junior Liberal whip, has made a hun-dred-mile tramp through the country, disguised as a. vagabond. Attired in ragged clothes, very much the worse for wear, and with a growth of beard on chin, he made an excellent tramp, and passed unrecognised among workhouse officials, to whom h e was personally known'. In all he covered 100 miles and slept at seven workhouses, his purpose being to gain personal knowledge lor a Look he is writing, called "Streets of Humanity."

Discussing his adventures, Mr Gray said that he had stayed in the casual Wards at Hanley, Thame, Headington, Oxford, Bicester, Banbury and Woodstock, and was only recognised once. "I'have no complaints; to make," he said, "about the treatment accorded to me by any of the officials, whose conduct, having regard to the material they are called upon to deal with, was surprisingly good and kind. In som e cases, however, the accommodation, from the standpoint of the health of the community ,calls for comment. "Some of the methods of dealing with tramps and their accommodation makes certain of the casual wards incubators and distributing agencies of disease.

"There are not more than 5 per cent of genuine unemployed frequenting the casual wards. The genuine unemployed on trek do nc«t go to the wards at all, but to places like doss-houses, church army homes and the like." The saddest feature, he added, was that nearly every casual ward he went to contained three or four youths embarking on a career of vagrancy and crime. Mr Gray is to send remittances to the various institutions, he visited to coyer tbrt cost "of his'heap'. ' He is; going, to make a report to,the Minister of Health.