WEST HAM GUARDIANS

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 6

WEST HAM GUARDIANS

Bill BEFORE COMMONS OPPOSED BY LABOR. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 9. (Received July 10, at 10.5 a.m.) The House of Commons read for the third time, by 278 votes to 83, the Bom'd of Guardians Bill. The Labor members strenuously opposed the measure, and complained of indecent haste in making a great constitutional change. Mr 0. R. Attlee warned Sir Austen Chamberlain that this sort of tilling was done before by the notorious Judge Jeffreys, who came to a bad end at Wapping. Mr Attlee declared that the measure meant the extension of class war into the field of local government. Mr E. C. Wallhead said; “This : s the worst form of dictatorship outside Italy,” and added that it was a new way of finding jobs for younger sous.— Reuter. [ln the House of Commons Mr Neville Chamberlain (Minister of Health) moved the Board of Guardians Default Bill, which has been framed to deal with the extravagance of West Ham. He said it was common knowledge that some of the elections were fought upon promises of extended poor relief, those in receipt of relief acting as canvassers. The system amounted to unabashed corruption. _ In many cases relief had raised the income of a family to £5 and £7 a week. West Ham was now indebted to the Ministry to the extent of £2,000,000, and with rates of 24s in the £ West Ham asked for a further loan of £425,000. The Bill would enable the Ministry to supersede the defaulting board and appoint people to carry out its duties.]