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86. The Bill with some amendments was passed and received
the Royal assent on the 10th July, 1905, and is to continue in
force for three years from that day unless Parliament otherwise
determine.
87. An order has since been made by the Local Government
Board providing for the constitution of local bodies termed
Distress Committees and of the Central Body under the name of
the "Central (Unemployed) Body for London." The Distress
Committee for this Borough is to consist of 12 Members of the
Council, 8 Members of and selected by the Board of Guardians
and 5 persons not Members of the Council but experienced in the
relief of distress. A list of the Members of the Distress Committee
is given on page 15. The Central Body is to consist of: 4 Members
of the London County Council, 4 Members selected in each
case from their own Body by the Distress Committee of the Common
Council and Westminster City Council, respectively, 2 Members
selected in each case from their own Body by the Distress
Committee of every Borough Council, such number of persons
not exceeding 8 as may be nominated by the Local Government
Board and 8 persons co-opted by the other Members of the Central
Body.
88. Orders have also been made by the Local Government
Board as to the conditions under which applications may be entertained
by Distress Committees, the conditions under which the
Central Body may aid the emigration or removal of unemployed
and their dependants, the conditions under which the Central
Body may provide or contribute towards the provision of work,
records and registers to be kept, the establishment of farm
colonies, the acquisition of land, officers and offices, contributions,
donations, and labour exchanges.
89. With the view of finding work for the unemployed, this
Council decided to carry out during the winter certain channelling
and other works, in respect of which the chief item of expense was
labour, at an estimated cost of £1,000. The Council also with
the same object renewed its offer to contribute the sum of
,£2,000 towards the cost of constructing an open-air swimmng
bath on Tooting Common. Eventually an agreement was entered
into between this Council, the Central Unemployed Body for
London, and the London County Council, under which the bathing
lake was to be formed by this Council at an estimated cost of