The beds are mostly of the plank type,the coverings scant,the comfort nil.Be it remembered that this is the treatment meted out to those who are supposed to be Casual poor,in temporary difficulty,walking from place to place seeking some employment.
The treatment of the women is as follows:Each Casual has to stay in the Casual Wards two nights and one day,during which time they have to pick 2lb.of oakum or go to the wash-tub and work out the time there.
While at the wash-tub they are allowed to wash their own clothes,but not otherwise.If seen more than once in the same Casual Ward,they are detained three days by order of the inspector each time seen,or if sleeping twice in the same month the master of the ward has power to detain them three days.There are four inspectors who visit different Casual Wards;and if the Casual is seen by any of the inspectors (who in turn visit all the Casual Wards)at any of the wards they have previously visited they are detained three days in each one.
The inspector,who is a male person,visits the wards at all unexpected hours,even visiting while the females are in bed.The beds are in some wards composed of straw and two rugs,in others cocoanut fibre and two rugs.The Casuals rise at 5.45a.m.and go to bed 7p.m.If they do not finish picking their oakum before 7p.m.,they stay up till they do.If a Casual does not come to the ward before 12.30,midnight,they keep them one day extra.The way in which this operates,however,can be best understood by the following statements,made by those who have been in Casual Wards,and who can,therefore,speak from experience as to how the system affects the individual:--J.C.knows Casual Wards pretty well.Has been in St.Giles,Whitechapel,St.George's,Paddington,Marylebone,Mile End.
They vary a little in detail,but as a rule the doors open at 6;you walk in;they tell you what the work is,and that if you fail to do it,you will be liable to imprisonment.Then you bathe.Some places the water is dirty.Three persons as a rule wash in one water.