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unemployment, a scheme for the reconstruction of certain public
library premises in their Borough had been submitted to the
Unemployment Grants Committee. This scheme was not approved
by the Grants Committee, who expressed the opinion that works
for the reconstruction or reconditioning of libraries could not be
regarded as suitable for grant from Exchequer Funds, haying regard
to the first part of paragraph (2) of Leaflet U.G.C.26, which read
as follows, viz.:—
The Committee will take into consideration the extent to which the work is
calculated to promote economic development in the United Kingdom, and will
not recommend a grant unless they are satisfied that there is substantial
acceleration.
After fully considering this decision, the Leyton Council
expressed the unanimous opinion that, in view of the enormous
practical and psychological value of the library service, a scheme
for the reconstruction of a library was definitely calculated to substantially
accelerate economic development. This view was in
accord with the opinion expressed by the Library Association by a
resolution passed at their recent Annual Conference.
This Council was asked to support the views of the Leyton
Borough Council, and to inform the Ministry of Labour and the
Unemployment Grants Committee accordingly.
The Council took no action in the matter beyond receiving the
communication.
Unemployment Conference at Guildhall.
The Council received the following Report from the Town
Clerk with reference to the Conference held at the Guildhall on
June 17th:—
Gentlemen,
Unemployment Conference held at the Guildhall on June 17th, 1930.
At the request of your Chairman, I beg to report on the above matter as
follows:—
The Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee having received an
invitation, as one of the Associations representing Local Authorities in England,
to attend a Conference at the Guildhall on the subject of Unemployment, appointed
seven delegates made up of five elected members, one Town Clerk and one Borough
Engineer, accompanied by the Hon. Clerk to the Committee to represent them at
the Conference. I was appointed as the Town Clerk delegate.
The invitation to the Conference was issued to Associations representing
local authorities in different parts of the country, and included the following : —
The County Councils' Association, the Association of Municipal Corporations,
the Association of County Councils in Scotland, the Convention of the Royal Burghs
of Scotland, the Corporation of London, the London County Council, the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee, the Urban District Councils' Association,
and the Rural District Councils' Association.
The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. Ramsey MacDonald, P.C., M.P.,
opened the Conference with a speech outlining the objects which the Government