§ MR. OLIPHANTsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether the statement of Mr. Day, Master of the Lambeth Workhouse, in explanation of charges of gross misconduct preferred against him and Mrs. Day by Thomas Rawley, on the 6th of April, 1865, is satisfactory; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Poor Law Board to institute an official inquiry into the conduct of the master and matron of that Establishment?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, the complaint to which the hon. Gentleman referred was made so long since as April, 1865, and on the 20th of June, 1865, the President of the Poor Law Board of that date returned an answer 2090 that he did not propose to carry the investigation further. The complaint made against the master and matron of the Lambeth Workhouse was that tea, sugar, and meat had been used by them for their own purposes in maintaining a portion of their family in the workhouse, contrary to the rule laid down by the Guardians. Inquiry was made into the circumstances by the Guardians, and they found that several of the charges were true, upon which they severely reprimanded the master and matron; and that the rest of the charges were frivolous and vexatious. That Return was made to the Poor Law Board more than a year ago, and the Board decided that they would take no further steps in the matter; and he might add that if the Guardians were not competent to inquire into such charges, they were unfit to discharge the duties which the law had imposed on them. Subsequent charges were made by the same person against the master and matron, but they were made in such a tone and spirit that the Poor Law Board did not think it right to make further inquiry into them. It was a great deal too late now for him (Mr. Gathorne Hardy) to re-open a question which had been closed by the Poor Law Board previous to his acceptance of office.