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Banquet to Little Londoners —At the invitation of Sir Wm.
Treloar, 41 children of men and women registered as unemployed
were entertained at the Guildhall on January 3rd, and accompanied
by the Worshipful the Mayor (Alderman John Somerville)
and the Mayoress.
The Committee are again indebted to the Borough Council for
their kindly provision of work, both direct and with the co-operation
of the Central Body. It was much appreciated, and greatly helped
to relieve the distress in the Borough during the winter months.
They also feel that they are deeply indebted and desire to
place on record their best thanks to the Rev. W. H. H. Elliott,
the Rev. F. James and his Deacons, and to the Salvation Army
for the use of their halls for the purpose of receiving applications,
and to all the other ladies and gentlemen who have assisted
in the work generally: also to Dr. W. Ellis Morgan, of 56. Peckham
Road, who has very kindly examined, free of charge, all men proceeding
to the Farm Colony and other works.
Appended is a copy of observations addressed to the Local
Government Board in reply to their circular letter of April 1st, 1910.
To the Local Government Board, April 15th, 1910.
Question: —The conditions of industry and employment within
the area of the Distress Committee during the year ending March
31st, 1910.
Answer: —The conditions of industry in this Borough appear to
have improved somewhat, except in the two principal occupations,
as out of 3,406 men registered as unemployed, 1,532 were described
as belonging to the building trade. The mineral water trade also,
which is a large factor in this Borough, again had a bad season,
and this affected both men and women.
The distress was quite as keenly felt, but was perhaps not so
apparent as in the winter of 1908-9, when the weather was so much
more severe.
It is interesting to note that of the
3,406 men and 184 women registering in 10,1909-
963 „ 34 „ registered once previously,
439 „ 8 „ „ twice „
291 „ 2 „ „ three times„
157 „ 1 „ „ four „ „
since the Act came into force.
It is also satisfactory to find, however, that from a recent canvass
of a number of cases a large percentage of the men have now got back
to their usual work.
Question :—Generally, as to the operation of the Act during the
year within the area of the Distress Committee.
Answer: —The Act has again been beneficial, enabling a large
number of families to keep going who would otherwise have had
recourse to the Poor Law Authorities, and perhaps then have to seek