§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the report of the hearing of a charge at the Thames 1049 Police Court on the 26th of July of refractory conduct on the part of an inmate of the Poplar Workhouse, when the magistrate, referring to that case and similar cases brought before him, commented on a want of judgment in inflicting punishments in that institution; and whether he will direct special inquiry to be made into the administration of the Poplar Workhouse.
§ * MR. T. W. RUSSELLMy right hon. friend has made inquiry as to the case referred to, and he finds that the inmate in question is an able-bodied man of about 35 years of age. He is stated to have been a very troublesome person, and he appears to have been convicted before the magistrates ten times during the last ten years for various offences in the Poplar and West Ham Workhouses. It does not appear to be necessary that any special inquiry should be directed into the administration of the Poplar Workhouse.