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183
as to the conditions of labour, to consider and classify the Record
Papers when completed.
Reception at
Office.
Applications from unemployed persons were received at the
office of the Distress Committee, 3, Church Row,
The Plain, Wandsworth, during- the winter months,
from Men on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from
Women on Wednesday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 o'clock
noon.
Investigation.
The particulars entered on the Record Papers were investigated
and verified by personal visits to the homes
of the applicants by the investigators, and references
as to character were obtained from previous employers. No
personal investigations were made outside the Borough.
Classification.
The Sub-Committee considered the completed Record Papers
and classified the applications into four divisions :—
Preference, Eligible, Ineligible, and Disqualified. In
recommending applicants to the Central Body as suitable for employment,
migration, or emigration, the Sub-Committee gave preference
to men of good character, and distinguished as far as
possible, between the habitual "out of work," and the applicant
who was unemployed through trade depression, or kindred causes.
Payment of
Wages.
The wages of the men from this Borough employed on the
Non-Colony Works were paid on Saturday morning
at the Office of the Committee; the week's work
being from Monday morning to Friday night. The rate of wages
was 6d. per hour.
Family
Allowance-
The men sent to the Working Colonies receive 6d. per week,
in addition to their board and lodging, a weekly
allowance being made to the family on the following
scale :—10s. to the wife, 2s. for the first child under 14, is. 6d. for
the second child under 14, and is. for each other child under 14
years; but in no case was 17s. 6d. to be exceeded. The allowances
are paid at the homes of the men on Wednesdays. The men are
allowed a furlough at the end of each month, their fares being paid
for them.
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