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99
Once again a considerable proportion of the income of the Poplar
Tuberculosis Fund has been derived from the Sunday opening of two
local cinemas—the Poplar Hippodrome and the Poplar Pavilion. In
November, however, the Committee was informed that the London
County Council had decided to remove the name of the Poplar Tuberculosis
Fund from the list of charities eligible to receive contributions
from this source as it was felt that the Tuberculosis Care Committee
should be able to obtain such assistance as was required from other
voluntary organisations or from Public Assistance authorities. A strong
protest against this decision was sent to the London County Council by
the Borough Council, in which it was pointed out that it would be quite
impossible, in Poplar at any rate, to carry on the work of the Care
Committee effectively without the assistance of the Poplar Tuberculosis
Fund, 60 per cent, of the income of which was derived from the contributions
of the cinemas. As a result of this protest the decision of the
London County Council was rescinded and the Fund was reinstated on
the list of charities eligible for this assistance. Even with these contributions
assured, it has been necessary for the Committee to make
continuous endeavours to augment the income of the Fund, and during
the year a collection at the Regal Cinema (by kind permission of the
proprietor), a Dancing Display and a very successful Christmas Sale were
organised. Other contributions, indicating that the value of the work
of the Fund is appreciated in many quarters, have come from the Poplar
Benevolent Society, the National Deposit Friendly Society, the Prudential
Societies, the Alexandra Rose Day Committee, several local Lodges of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and various other subscribers.
The Annual Report and Balance Sheet of the Poplar Tuberculosis Fund
are published at the end of the financial year.
The Handicraft Class, an occupational centre for patients unfit for,
or unable to obtain, ordinary work, continues to meet weekly at the
Dispensary. There were 15 names on the register at the close of 1936,
and an average attendance of 12 members proves that the Class is appreciated.
Goods made in the Class were disposed of at an Exhibition and
Sale of Handicrafts organised by the Standing Conference of Metropolitan
Borough Tuberculosis Care Committees and held at the Carpenters' Hall
in June, at the Ex-Servicemen's Armistice Exhibition at the Imperial
Institute in November, and at the Christmas Sale at the Dispensary.
The Poplar Tuberculosis Care Committee is represented on the
Standing Conference of Metropolitan Borough Tuberculosis Care Committees
and 2 meetings of the Conference were attended during the year.