§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Local Government Board if he can state whether the contract given to Mr. Bollin, ironmonger and engineer, of High Street, Sutton, by the Fulham Board of Guardians, for work to be done at Belmont House, Surrey, was tendered for in the usual way by open competition; if he is aware that the contractor was allowed to use the services of John Worker, an inmate of the institution, by doing all kinds of general labouring work, for which he was paid the sum of £2 for work done; and will he say whether contractors doing work for the boards of guardians are allowed to use the inmates for the benefit of contractors by paying them less than the usual trade union rate of wages, and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BURNSThe occurrence to which the question refers was unauthorised. The man Worker was allowed as an act of kindness to be employed on and remunerated for a particular piece of work which he did at the workhouse for Messrs. Bowling and Company. When the matter was brought to the notice of the guardians the master was informed that however good his motive the proceeding was irregular and must not be repeated.