club of leisure, where every member would have the advantage of everything found without having to pay a subscription. (Laughter.) The "previous question " was proposed and carried. A vote of thanks to the readers of the papers was heartily accorded. Mr BOUSFIELD proposed a vote of thanks to the President for the able way in which he had conducted the proceedings. They had never had a Conference which needed a stronger President, and they had never had a stronger President. (Cheers.) His experience on the Northumberland County Council and in other public positions eminently fitted him for the post. The Conference had passed one vote which was contrary to the Committee's recommendation, but the Committee would accept it heartily, and would do their best to make resolutions as successful as possible. (Cheers.) Mrs FULLER said that with the greatest pleasure she seconded the vote of thanks to the President, to whom they must all feel very deeply indebted for the lessons his Grace had given them in the way in which a Conference should be conducted. (Cheers.) The DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND said he had to thank Mr Bousfield for opening the Conference that morning, and he would like to take that opportunity of thanking him and Mr Chance for their great kindness in assisting him to conduct the Conference. Their experience and wisdom, with that of Dr Rhodes, would enable him to carry away very pleasant recollections of the Conference, and he believed that their deliberations would be productive of much good. (Cheers.) The proceedings then terminated. RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT CONFERENCES CHILDREN. "That considering the difficulty in providing 'Scattered Homes' for children in many Unions, the Local Government Board be asked to extend the provisions of the Boarding of Children in Unions Order, 1889, so that in future Boards of Guardians may be empowered to board-out any child they may think fit." South-Western Conference. FEMALE INMATES OF WORKHOUSES. "That the Local Government Board be memorialised to introduce legislation with a view to preventing female inmates who are known to be of immoral character, or who have illegiti mate children, from discharging themselves from the Workhouse except with the consent of the Guardians." OLD-AGE PENSIONS. North Wales District Conference. "That it is desirable that a system of old-age pensions be at once established by the State." South Midland Conference. OVERCROWDING AND PAUPERISM. "That in the opinion of this Conference a simple process should be provided in the Bill now before Parliament, to enable Local Authorities to assist in the provision of suitable dwellings where necessary for the smaller wage-earning part of the popu lation, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Local Government Board." Central Conference. VACCINATION. "That in the opinion of this Conference a grant should be made from the Imperial Exchequer towards the increased cost which will be thrown upon the ratepayers in carrying out the new Vaccination Act, and that a memorial be sent to the Local Government Board and the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging legislation with this object." North Wales District Conference. WORKHOUSE DIETARIES. "That with the view of obtaining greater variety in Workhouse dietaries, the Local Government Board be informed that it should be possible for Guardians to adopt for Workhouses maximum provision tables, and that the Board be requested to take such steps as will permit this desirable reform, which has been sanctioned for certain Homes under the direction of Boards of Guardians." Central Conference. SUGGESTED SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION AT DISTRICT POOR LAW CONFERENCES DURING THE YEAR 1900. 1. Codification of the Poor Law, and of the Consolidated Orders. 2. Local Taxation Report. 3. Poor Law Administration in Scotland and England. 4. The Vagrants' Children Protection Bill, 1900. 5. Workhouse Dietaries. 6. Emigration of Poor Law Children. 7. Training of Poor Law Officers. 8. The Liability for Maintenance of Pauper Relations. 9. Sanatoria for Consumptive Patients. 10. Bye-Laws (building and other) in Rural Districts. 11. The Transfer of the Inspection of the Education of Children in Poor Law Schools to the Education Department. 12. Curriculum in the Poor Law Schools, including Manual and Industrial Training. 13. The Statistics of Pauperism. 14. Treatment of Young Women in Workhouses. 15. The Proper Use of Poor Law Infirmaries. 16. Is Insanity Increasing? This Committee consists of three representatives being Guardians or Clerks to Guardians, annually elected by each of the District Poor Law Conferences in England and Wales, and of certain additional members co-optated by the elected members, but not to exceed in number more than one-third of the number of elected representatives. The co-optated members are appointed for two years, one-half of them to retire by rotation in each year, but to be eligible for re-election. The following are the Committee and its Officers :— Chairman and Hon. Treasurer-Mr W. BOUSFIELD, 20 Hyde Park Gate, S. W. Hon. Secretary-Mr W. CHANCE, Orchards, near Godalming. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. 1. Metropolitan and (2.) South-Eastern Districts- Mr D. MILLIGAN, 21 Spencer Road, New Wandsworth, S.W. 3. South Midland District— Rev. Dr J. C. Cox, Holdenby Rectory, Northampton. Mr I. HARDING, Bedford. Mr ALBERT PELL, LL.D., Haselbeach, Northampton. 4. Eastern District Mr T. COZENS-HARDY, Oak Lodge, Sprowston, Norwich. Alderman J. WICKS, Colchester. 5. South-Western District— Mrs FULLER, Neston Park, Corsham, Wilts. Mr R. A. MOORE-STEVENS, Torrington, Devon. 6. West Midland District Rev. G. DAVENPORT, Foxley, Hereford. Mr G. E. LLOYD-BAKER, Hardwicke Court, Gloucester. 7. North Midland District Mr ARTHUR ANDREW, Iveyholme, New Walk, Leicester. Mr R. J. HANSON, Cloverlands, Kimberley, Notts. 8. North-Western District Mr H. J. HAGGER, Vestry Hall, Liverpool. Rev. Canon H. A. HIGNETT, Ringway, Altrincham. 9. Yorkshire District— Mr BENTHAM, Bradford. Mr C. FITTON, Bay Hall, Huddersfield, Mr FELDMAN, Hull. |