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Poor Relief. I am indebted to Mr. E. J. Johnson, the Borough
Treasurer, for the following particulars regarding poor relief
in 1937. The total number of poor persons who were receiving relief
—other than relief of a medical nature—at December 31st, 1937,
was 10,943. The amount expended on out-relief during the
financial year from 1st April, 1937, to 31st March, 1938, was
.£191,668, of which £34,147 was granted to persons ordinarily
engaged in some regular occupation, and £157,521 to other
persons. The institutions which formerly belonged to the West
Ham Board of Guardians were transferred to the Council in March,
1930, and of these the Central Home, which is situated in Leyton,
is the only one which is now available for indoor relief. The
relieving stations are set out later. The relieving officers
attend at these stations between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Central Home. The casual wards which were formerly at
this institution, and the casuals, are now dealt with by the Joint
Committee for the Northern Home Counties, consisting of the
Counties of Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex, and the County
Boroughs of West Ham, East Ham and Southend-on-Sea. The
majority of the children who are orphaned or deserted are placed
in the Aldersbrook Children's Home. Others are placed in private
homes, and the foster-parents are paid for their maintenance.
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