The Report of Mr. Davy, the Chief Inspector of the
Local Government Board, who held the inquiry into the Poplar Union, was published as a Blue-book on Thursday evening. We shall deal later with the Report in detail, but here can only find space to say that it brings out very clearly the results of the first definite attempt made in this country to apply in practice the chief principles of Socialism. The effects in Poplar of the policy of lavish outdoor relief were exactly those which could have been predicted, and, indeed, were predicted by all students of the Poor Law Report of 1834. Indiscriminate State aid to the poor not only called into existence and perpetuated the system of casual labour, but operated to keep down wages. We are glad to note, what we were sure would be the case, that as far as his private honour and probity are concerned, Mr. Will Crooks is entirely exonerated by the Report. This, however, only makes the lesson of Poplar more poignant. The terrible evils disclosed were not due to corruption or maladministra- tion on the part of those who controlled the Poplar Board, but to Poor Law administration on Socialistic principles. It is a most striking example, and one the significance of which will, we trust, be noted by the nation.
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