THE LONDON POOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 7

THE LONDON POOR.

RELIEF AT WEST HAM. " UNABASHED CORRUPTION." LOXDOX, July 6. The Minister of Health, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, moved the second reading in the House of Commons of the Board of Guardians Default Bill. The measure is designed to deal with tlie extravagance of the West Ham Hoard. The Minister said it was common knowledge that some of the elections of these boards were fought upon promises of extended poor relief grants. T'ersons in receipt of relief acted as canvassers. The system amounted to unabashed corruption. Tn many cases relief given had raised the income of a family to £5 and even £7 a week. The West Ham Board was now indebted to the Ministry of Health to the extent of £2.000.000. and with the rates at 24/ to the pound the board had asked for a further loan of £425,000. The bill, if carried, would enable the Ministry to supersede a defaulting board and to appoint people to carry out its duties. Mr. J. WTaeatley, Labour member for Shettleston (Glasgow), -who was Minister of Health in the Labour Government, vigorously moved the rejection of the bill. He said it was a partisan and misguided measure. The Conservatives had refused to make unemployment a national burden, said Mr. Wheatley, and had tlrrown the maintenance of the poor upon the poor. The closure was applied by 346 votes to 130, and the bill was read a second time.—(A. and X.Z.)