OBSTINATE GUARDIANS

Evening Star, Issue 19044, 12 September 1925, Page 4

OBSTINATE GUARDIANS

WEST HAM RELIEF REFUSAL TO REDUCE PAYMENTS Prcoa A»aociation —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 10. After a violent discussion, in which tho chairman of tho Finance Committee said he intended to light tho Minister of Health, the Most Ham Guardians passed a resolution reiterating their refusal to reduce outdoor relief from 59s to 55s a week as requested by the Minister. Other speakers declared their readiness to go to prison. The statement of accounts presented showed a deficit of £150,000 and £1,500,000 duo to 'the Ministry of Health. Tho overdraft of £-300,000 at the bank which was sanctioned by Parliament is nearly exhausted. A letter was road from the bank insisting on tho restriction of the overdraft from day to day to one-third of the outstanding uncollected rates,—■ lleuter.

[The ‘ Daily Express ’ recently stated : Owing to the gross extravagance and defiant attitude of the West Ram Board of Guardians, Cabinet is discussing the suspension of the board, and Mr Neville Chamberlain (the Minister of Health) taking over its functions. The board’s accounts show a deficit of £4-34,000, and it owes to the Ministry of Health £J,540,000 for loans and interest. It has now come to the end of its tether, and is unable to raise more loans. All appeals for the economical administration of the Poor Law have been fruitless. The district covers Leyton, Walthamstow, and Wanstead. Relief is being paid to 65,495 persons, the maximum being 60s a week, and the relief is sometimes in excess of the wages paid in .the district for a full day’s work. The West Ham rates are now 24s in the pound, the poor rate alone being 9s.]