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"When this Circular was first issued the Local Government
Board doubtless considered that Vestries and District Boards
could find work in the direction suggested, but very slight enquiry,
at least as regards the Metropolis, would have dissipated that idea
long since.
"Altogether disregarding the inferred lack of sympathy with
the Unemployed on the part of Vestries and District Boards,
which the continued issue of this Circular implies, and the
unpleasantnesses from which these bodies have suffered when in
response thereto employment was not forthcoming, we feel that to
arouse illusory hopes in the minds of those bowed down by
suffering and privation, by leading them to think that relief in the
form of employment would ensue in the manner suggested by this
Circular, when only disappointment could result, is adding
another and most acute sorrow to the almost unbearable burdens
of too many of our fellow citizens.
"We therefore recommend that this Board should most
respectfully represent to the Local Government Board, that while
they (the Board), would only be mos*- grateful for any practical
proposals or suggestions which would tend towards the relief of
the unemployed, they consider those contained in the present
Circular utterly futile—at least as regards the Metropolis—and
recommend its withdrawal. We also recommend that a copy of
this Report be sent to the Member for West Southwark; and that
copies be sent to the Vestries and District Boards of the
Metropolis, requesting them to memorialise the Local Government
Board and their Local Members to the same effect."
The Report was adopted by the Board; and, in accordance
with the recommendation contained in the concluding paragraph,
a letter was addressed to Mr. Causton, M.P., and the several
Vestries and District Boards of the metropolis; copies were also
forwarded to the member of the Select Committee of the House
of Commons on the distress from want of employment, then
sitting. A large number of the Vestries and several members of
the Select Committee wrote, in reply, expressing concurrence with
the views expressed in the report.
COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
On the receipt, in February last, of a letter from the Secretary
of the Southwark Liberal and Radical Association protesting
against the plan adopted as to the counting of the votes and
declaration of the poll at the previous County Council Election,
and urging that the result of the poll should be declared within
the district of West Southwark, the Board adopted a similar resolution,
adding that, in its opinion, the deputy returning officer
should be chosen from within the district. A copy of such
resolution was forwarded to the London County Council
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