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180
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.
Reception
at Office.
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.
Investigation.
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.
Classification.
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, except in the case of men working in Royal
Parks, the wages there being 3s. 10d. per day, and full fares paid.
Payment of
Wages.
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, 1s. 6d.
for the second child under 14, and 1s. 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.
Family
allowance.