POOR LAW SCANDALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9097, 25 May 1908, Page 4

POOR LAW SCANDALS.

ALLEGED FRAUDS. LONDON, May 22. Eight of the Mile End guardrails? and two ex-guardians are charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting James Calcutt, builder, ,in making excessive charges and ignoring the auditor's warning protests.

About a fortnight ago Cnlcutt was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for making excessive charges, etc. On July 23rd, Mr E. 3. Willis openeJ a Local Government Board inquiry into the finances of the Mile End guardians, with special reference to charges of £197 for whitewashing, painting,. a<ncr cleaning th> infirmary, and of £ll6 on the coaf contract. Another . subject to re specially inquired into was the administration of 1 the children's homes, several of which were alleged to be owned by members of the hoard. The Inspector 'safd' that £l97' had 1 been surcharged to the audit for the half-year ended Lady Day, 1906, om 11 guardians. It was a portion of a , payment made to Mr Calcutt, the contractor, who was paid la 6d per square yard ior work, although the architect for the guardians had certified the work at la. The auditor had disallowed the difference. A second amount of £ll6 was for, f, oal surcharged on live guardians, who* authorised the payment by signing' the cheque. This was part of an amount paid to Mr Joseph Cade, the contractor for stem coal, the guardians accenting a fender for 18s Gd per to in preference to a~ tender from a responsible firm for 16s. per tonThere was also by the guardians since 1899 of certain houses, 25 in number, as homer fbr pauper children. During the year ending Lady Day, 1906, the sum of £2,258, or £B6'perhonse, was spe?Jt for repairs and various works, some of which work had been of an extravagant character, porcelain baths for instance, at £lB to £2O each. Mr Elvey Robb, who appeared for the Stepney Ratepayers' Union, safd as regards the coal contract, trie saving which might have been effected on coke alone in one year was £Bl 18s. The most serious subject, however, was that of the 26 scattered homes for pauper children. Two of them had' been bought for £3Oo> each arid sold to the guardians for £6OO. Out of 16 houses, 15 were leased by persons directly or indirectly connected with the board. An average of £75 a year had been soent on each house, and £SOO had' been spent- on one house. For two and a half vards of ordinary common white-glazed tiles, worth l'3s~ a yard, £6 lis 7Jd was paid, while as , for the infirmary for the painting, white-washing and vanishing of one ward' (for which the estimate was, about £80) the sum charged was £221 15s 4d.