26. Mr. J. JONESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that at Tottenham Police Court on Thursday, 20th April, a man named Charles Whybrow and his wife were sentenced to a month's imprisonment on a charge of cruelty to children; and that the police-inspector in the case gave evidence that the children were well fed and clothed and that the best that could have been done for the children under the circumstances had been done; and, in view of the great difficulty people have in obtaining suitable house accommodation at the present time, will he take this case into his sympathetic consideration with a view to the remission of the rest of the sentence?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)I have made inquiries. The case was adjourned from time to time to enable Mr. Whybrow to obtain other accommodation, which he said he could do, and he was told that if he failed he must apply to the guardians. The court came to the conclusion that Mr. and Mrs. Whybrow were wilfully defying the law. I regret I cannot therefore interfere.
Mr. JONESIs it advisable for men who do not want to go on the Poor Law relief to be forced to accept it?
§ Mr. SHORTTThat may not be so, but you will have to consider the interest of the small children.
Mr. JONESIs it not true that that is the evidence given by the police inspector, 1153 yet we are told the only remedy is that they must go into the workhouse to be kept by the ratepayers?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo. According to my information that was not the evidence.
§ Mr. WATERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman take further steps, by investigation, to see whether the statements in the question are true?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have made the fullest inquiries and had a full account from the Clerk of the Court of all the evidence.