§ MR. BORLASE (Cornwall, St. Austell)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he can give any information as to a difference which is said to have arisen between the Local Government Board and the Launceston Board of Guardians in respect of the appointment of a schoolmistress?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Guardians of the Launceston Union, in 1316 the early part of last year, informed the Board that they proposed to dispense with the services of the workhouse schoolmistress, and to send the children to a public elementary school at a distance of about half - a - mile from the workhouse. With regard to the care of the children when out of school hours, it was stated that a pauper inmate would have the charge of both the boys and girls and sleep in their bed rooms, and that an inmate of the workhouse would accompany them to and from school. The Board are so strongly impressed with the evils which result from the close communication of the children with adult pauper inmates of the workhouse that they stated that they could only assent to the arrangement as to the children going out to school instead of being under the charge of a teacher in the workhouse on the condition that proper arrangements for a paid officer taking charge of them were made. The Guardians stated that the master and matron would undertake the care of the children; but the Board pointed out that as the master was the only male officer in the workhouse, and in addition to his ordinary duties had to undertake the supervision of paupers who are set to work on land belonging to the Guardians, and also to discharge the duties which ordinarily attach to the porter of the workhouse, it was impossible that he could give that attention to the children which was necessary, and the Board urged the Guardians to reconsider the question, with a view to the appointment either of a caretaker of the children or a porter, who could give that attention to the boys when in the workhouse which was of such importance to their future welfare. This communication was dated March 26 last; but the Board received no reply from the Guardians. Subsequently the auditor disallowed the payment of the school fees, amounting to 17s. 3d., as the Board had not assented to the children being sent out to school. On an appeal from the guardians against the auditor's decision, the Board, pending the settlement of the question as to the charge of the children, stated that they saw no sufficient reason for remitting. There has never been the slightest indisposition on the part of the Board to assent to the children being sent out of the workhouse to school, 1317 provided proper arrangements are made for their supervision while out of school hours.