ADDING FUEL TO THE FLAMES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8729, 27 February 1894, Page 5

ADDING FUEL TO THE FLAMES.

At the meetuig of the Sydenham Borough Council a fortnight ago exception was Strongly taken bo the terms of a circular letter received from the Charitable Aid Board, asking the Council for the payment of its contribution. A reply was sent to the Board and this has resulted in the Council receiving another letter, which has still further raised the ire of the Counciilois. The Board wrote stating that considering the amount annually required from Sydenham had hitherto been very small in proportion to the cost of distributed relief to residents within the Borough, the Council would have had very little cause to complain if the Board had pressed for earlier payment than had been made in the past. Taking the period of six years ended March 31st, 1895, the letter went on to Kay the value -of outdoor relief alone to Sydenham recipients was upwards of £7300 (nob including any proportion relating bo institutions, children boardod-out, &c), whereas the contribution from the Council for the same period was only £1400, or less than 20 per cent, of the expenditure, and in only one instance during that period had any portion of the contribution due by the Council been paid before November, though it was legally due in May or Jane. Tbe letter pointed out that the object of the Board's previous circular was to endeavour to obtain .earlier and regular payment by means of the adoption of a uniform system of monthly payments. Afber several Councillors had given vent to their oubraged feelings, the letter was referred to the Finance Committee to report upon.