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cattle should be prohibited. In July the Council sent a request to the Government
for action to arrest rising prices of food and other necessaries.
Overcrowding". Conditions have never been so bad here, owing to
a rush of munition workers from all parts, who desire to live near their
work, and in many cases, two soldiers' wives limit their expenses by concentrating
into one house instead of two. If stringent measures were taken
to abate this, as no small houses are to be had, it would only lead to those
dispersed producing over-crowding elsewhere.
LEGISLATION.
The Government's activities have been reflected here to the local authority,
who, mainly through its Clerk's and Medical Officer's Departments, carry out
in the district the various Acts and Orders issued. To some of these I now
briefly refer :—
Naval and Military War Pensions Act, 1916. In March the
Council established a local Committee of 22 members, 9 of whom are Councillors,
5 women, and 4 Labour representatives. This first met on July 1st. It was
decided not to join a Committee for the county as a whole. In August the
Council resolved that " the provision of all pensions, grants, and allowances
to sailors, soldiers and their dependents, is a national obligation, and, as
a matter of national honour, ought not to be the subject of charitable appeals."
This was forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and our M.P. On
12th October Mr. Pettipiere resigned his membership and became Secretary.
War Saving's Committee. Ill March it was decided not to form a
local Committee, and in June not to have a "War Savings Week." On July
25th a representative of the Central Committee addressed a special Council
Meeting, after which it was decided that the Council do form itself into a
local Committee, with power to add to their number. Councillor Taylor was
appointed Secretary, and Councillor Cull as Chairman, Mr. Tonkin as
Assistant Secretary. An Executive Committee first met on July 27th. In
August an Association was formed for the Councillors, officials and workpeople,
and affiliated to the National War Savings Committee.
War Allotments. The Cultivation of Lands Order made by the
Board of Agriculture under the powers of the Defence of the Realm Regulations,
1914, and circular of 12th December, led that month to a schedule being
prepared of all unoccupied and unrated land in the district suitable for
cultivation, which was found to amount to about 100 acres; application for
allotments was invited by advertisement. No consent of owner is necessary.
The matter is in the hands of a sub-committee of the Parks Committee. The
plots vary from 10 poles to 5½ acres; rent, 2s. 6d. per year for 10 poles;
tenants to erect fences.' Later, a letter was addressed to the old allotment
occupiers urging the necessity for cultivating at least 75 per cent. of their
plots for the production of food. A Special Committee of six Councillors and
six outside persons was appointed to deal with these lands.