AID FOR UNEMPLOYED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 211, 19 June 1936, Page 5

AID FOR UNEMPLOYED

WORK OF THE BRITISH BOARD. v NEW' SOCIAL SERVICES. (United Press Association—Copyright _ LONDON, June 17. The magnitude ef the task confronting the Unemployment Assistance Board in creating a. new social service for able-bodied unemployed is described in the board’s first annual report. Appointed on July 1, 1934, the ‘board was called on to set up within six months more than 300 district offices manned by a. stafi' of more than 6000 persons and to appoint 130 appeal tribunals. 0n the first appointed! day, January 7, 1935, it was required to assume responsibility for transitional payments to a. class amounting to about 800,000 applicants, who with their dependants made a total of about 2,500,000 persons. 0n the second appointed day, March 1, 1935, a further 200,000 applicants were taken over. Lord Ruschclifl’e, chairman of the board, states in the introduction to the report, that no social service on such a large scale has been attempted in this country within such a limited period.

Fears that the board would prove soulless and bureaucratic have, he says, proved groundless. Many! examples are quoted of the way in which officers have given extra. assistance in cases of special need.——British Official \Vire—less.