160 BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM. 
affecting the Guardians’ work amounts to between four and five 
hundred, starting from the time of Queen Elizabeth, so that 
members must very largely look to officials for guidance on 
technical points. 
The work done by the Guardians includes all that relates to 
the relief of the poor, either in establishments built for their recep- 
tion or by means of out-relief; the removal of lunatics; the 
maintenance of schools and homes for the children of the poor ; 
maintenance and schooling of the blind, deaf and dumb of poor 
parents; giving assistance to poor persons emigrating; apprentice- 
ship of poor children; the provision of a register office for births 
and deaths; appointment of vaccination officer. About thirty or 
forty institutions have cases sent to them by the Lewisham Union. 
In addition to the many Statutes already mentioned, the Guardians 
have to work under the orders of the Local Government Board, 
which are equivalent to law, and of which there are about 120 in 
force at the present time. 
Lewisham Workhouse, including the Lunatic Wards, is now 
certified to hold 641, the original premises having been purchased 
from the Local Guardians in 1880 for £7,500, to which additional 
lands were soon after added at a cost of £15,000, and new 
buildings and fittings for £45,960. New Casual Wards have also 
been added at a cost of over £4,000. 
The Infirmary is a modern one, built in 1894, and is of the 
best of its kind, both in regard to the building itself and its equip- 
ment. The total loans incurred for land, building and fittings 
amount to 468,300. From the first the Infirmary has been a 
very efficient and much-appreciated institution. There being no 
general hospital in the Borough, accident cases, and cases requiring 
surgical skill, are often taken there in addition to the sick from the 
Workhouse. A separate building for the temporary accommoda- 
tion of the insane was added in 1899, at a loan expenditure 
of £3,700. There is room for 4o1 inmates in the Infirmary, in- 
cluding the insane. 
Besides the two large institutions just referred to, the 
Guardians are part owners in the Residential Schools at Anerley, 
and the grounds attached thereto, the other partners being the 
Guardians of the Wandsworth Union. Lewisham had during 
1906-7 a weekly average of 173 children in these schools, and as 
long as the partnership lasts, Lewisham ratepayers must pay their 
share of the upkeep. Recently some ‘‘ scattered homes” in rented 
houses have been tried. Opinion is divided as to their success, 
and as the Guardians were opposed to the extra cost, while they 
were still paying for places at Anerley, the ‘‘ homes” have been 
closed. The annual cost per head of the children at Anerley, 
belonging to Lewisham, is 432 12s. rod. 
In connection with the Guardians’ expenditure it should be 
remembered that there is a Common Poor Fund, to which all parts 
of London contribute, and certain matters of local expenditure are 
