View report page

6
"The
Unemployed"
The large sum expended in connection with "the
unemployed" will doubtless be noticed, and requires
explanation. On November 17th, a lengthy circular
letter from the President of the Local Government
Board was submitted to the Vestry, in which a number
of suggestions were made as to dealing with
exceptional distress which might arise during the
coming winter, and this letter was referred by the
Vestry to tho Works Committeo, with power to act.
The Committee gave your Surveyor instructions to
employ as many additional men as he could find
useful work for in sweeping the roads, and the
sweeping gangs were at once largely augmented. On
December 1st, a deputation of eight members of the
Board of Guardians waited on tho Vestry, and tho
matter was again referred to tho Works Committee
to confer with the deputation.
A deputation on behalf of the unemployed also
waited on the Vestry, and the Vestry resolved that
"It be an instruction to the Works Committee to
pay all casual labourers taken on from the unemployed
6d. per hour" It was also moved "that the
Vestry employ fifty residents of Bethnal Green, from
to-morrow morning forward for a fortnight," but
this motion was lost.
On December 6th, the deputation of the Board of
Guardians attended the Works Committee, and