§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the fact that last week twenty-one Reservists just returned from South Africa were admitted to the Canterbury Workhouse, and that they were compelled to break stones before their departure each day; and whether he will provide that, in the case of men who have served in South Africa and bear high characters, the breaking of stones will be omitted form their task before leaving the workhouses.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I have made inquiry on this subject, and I understand that, of the twenty-one Reservists referred to, only five had just returned from South Africa, the rest being Army and Naval Reservists and time-expired men. I am informed that none of these men asked to be excused their task of stone-breaking or stone-pounding, which is the task usually given to able-bodied males admitted to the casual wards of the Canterbury Workhouse. The Guardians are, however, now considering the advisability of admitting any bona fide cases into the workhouse until full inquiries can be made, with a view to 1312 employment being obtained through the East Kent Association for the employment of reserve and discharged soldiers.