§ SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the case referred 857 to in the following extract from The Globe of the 12th instant (which has been verified as accurate by the Superintendent of the Strand Union Schools at Edmonton); and whether he will consider of the advisability of giving the Guardians some limited discretionary power in dealing with such a case, which is by no means an isolated one, or take other steps to protect children in similar cases:—
Yesterday, at the Strand Board of Guardians, a woman named Elizabeth Smith, who was wretchedly attired, applied for the custody of her two children, aged respectively 12 and 14, who were in the schools at Edmonton The Clerk read a Report, which had been made by one of the officers of the Union, to the effect that he had visited Mrs. Smith's home, and found she had only one room, in a wretched condition, almost devoid of furniture, and with a very little bedding, and in this room slept with the mother a daughter aged 19, and a son aged 16 years. The Chairman strongly advised the applicant not to take her two boys from the schools to her miserable home. One of them was in the band, and would become a good musician, while the other was making good progress with his trade as a shoemaker, and both were very happy. Mr. Bennett said it would be a shame to give these children up to Mrs. Smith, who spent her time going from public house to public house.—The Relieving Officer said that Mrs. Smith's husband poisoned himself some time ago owing to the conduct of his wife.—The Chairman: I implore and entreat of you, Mrs. Smith, not to take these children away.—Mrs. Smith: Can't I have my children if I want them?—The Chairman: I must tell you if you insist upon it you can have them.—Mrs. Smith: I do insist upon it, and I will have them.—The Chairman; Very well, if you say so you must have them, and we cannot help it?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)My attention has been drawn to the case referred to in the Question. Legislation would be necessary to empower a Board of Guardians to retain, against the will of the parent, the custody of his child, although in consequence of destitution the child had been chargeable to the rates. No doubt, there are some instances in which the interests of children are prejudiced by their parents claiming them from the Guardians; but I should not be prepared to propose legislation which would enable a Board of Guardians to withhold a child from its parent when claimed by him. If, after a child has been taken charge of by its parent, there are any circumstances which would bring the case under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Acts, proceedings 858 might be taken for sending the child to an industrial school.