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45
NAVAL CONTRACTS.
In consequence of a letter from the Ratcliff Vestry asking the
co-operation of other East End Boards and Vestries in appealing to
the Government to give some portion of their Naval Contracts to
East End Shipbuilders, with a view to the relief of distress during
the coming winter, the Board agreed to co-operate in such appeal
and a letter was addressed to Mr. II. S. Samuel, M.P., asking
him to bring the matter before the Government.
Mr. Samuel replied detailing the steps he had already adopted
by interviewing the Admiralty Authorities, and it was then resolved
that the East Knd District Boards and Vestries be invited to
appoint Delegate to attend a conference at the Limehouse Town
Hall to discuss the question, and that the Members of Parliament,
and Members of the London County Council for East End constituencies
be also invited to be present.
The Conference was held at the Limehouse Town Hall on
Thursday, 30th January, at 4 p.m., and the following resolutions
were passed, viz.
"That this Meeting of Memliers of Parliament and of
"the London County Council, representing constituencies in
"the East and South East of London, and of Delegates from
"the several District Boards, Vestries, and Boards of Guard"tans
in those localities which are directly concerned in the
"Shipbuilding Industries of the Port of London, and represent"ing
a population of upwards of 2,000,000, respectfully
"requests Her Majesty's Government to consider their claim
"to a share of future Naval Contracts."
"And we further desire to enter our protest against the
"action of the Admiralty in withdrawing the clause 'current
"rate of wages in the District,' from the fair wages contract,
"and respectfully ask for its reinsertion; and further ask that
"in all future contracts the difference in the rates of wages
"prevailing in a particular district shall be taken into considera"tion
by the Admiralty in allocating the Shipbuilding Con"tracts."