Mr. Farnall, the Poor-Law Commissioner, who seems to be always
selected by the Board when there is anything difficult to do, is trying to compel London parishes to carry out the House- less Poor Act. The Guardians of Bermondsey appear to be especially refractory. Mr. Farnall told them the Board had power to imprison their officers if they would not obey, but all to no purpose. The porter turns away some 150 houseless vagrants every week, whom the guardians are bound to take in, but though they have only 300 paupers in wards built for 700 they will not admit them. They are not bound, they say, to admit wretches whom the low lodginghouses refuse, and insist on picking and choosing among the destitute. Mr. Farnall suggested that they might issue tickets enabling the casuals to obtain beds elsewhere, but no, 'the guardians would do nothing, and it will be necessary to wait for a new Act making them responsible as well as their officers. Cannot the Board enable some " casual " to apply for an iajunction from the Queen's Bench compelling the guardians to obey an'Act of Parliament ? Men who do not care if persons entrusted to their charge die of cold and hunger, are not likely to be much influenced by punishment inflicted on their officers.
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