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"The Board may also suggest that additional labour in
street cleansing might, in many cases be employed with
great advantage. Work of this kind obviously affords
appropriate employment for unskilled labour."
"As the Board have previously suggested, when such employment
is given by the Vestry or District Board, it
would usually be an advantage if they acted in concert
with the Board of Guardians, and the Guardians were
afforded the opportunity of recommending for employment
persons who, from their previous circumstances and condition,
it is most desirable should not be placed under the
necessity of receiving relief at the cost of the rates.
"If this suggestion commends itself to the Local Authority
it would no doubt be useful if some personal conference
were to take place between the members of the Authority
and of the Board of Guardians, with the view of facilitating
the necessary arrangements.
"The Board trust that the Vestries and District Boards will
be so good as to give this communication their early consideration,
and the Board will be glad to be informed of
the result."
and the Board replied (22nd January) stating—
"The subject has not escaped the notice of this Board, and
they would gladly advance any works in their District in
the manner suggested by you, but for the fact that it is
impracticable to proceed with the work of ordinary road
repair, paving, and other similar work while the weather
continues so severe. The only work possible is additional
street cleansing, in sweeping and removing snow, &c., and
the question is how many extra men may properly be
employed in this work, seeing that the whole of the
Board's ordinary staff of workmen are available for the
same, and in fact cannot be otherwise employed. This
Board have, however, been able to find work for a considerable
number of extra men in the recent snow and
frost, and they continue to hire as many men as they can
properly find work for. Yesterday 176 extra men were
employed in the District, and a large sum has been expended
in this extra labour.