MR. JESSOP IN STRATFORD

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 355, 12 September 1933, Page 5

MR. JESSOP IN STRATFORD

Meeting of Local People COMPLAINT ABOUT CAMP CONDITIONS MAYOR CRITICISES BUILDING SUBSIDY Mr Jessop arrived in Stratford this afternoon when he was met by the Mayor and members of the unemployment committee. Mr T. R. Anderson presided and briefly welcomed Mr Jessop. Mr Jessop said fortunately the winter was being got througu without the distress anticipated. The better tone which had come about was reflected in the increased amount received in Unemployment Tax. The big question to be watched was the effect of unemployment on the life of the people 'generally. That would have to be watched as the time went on. Mr Anderson said the County Council had endeavoured to maintain us largo a staff as possible. Mr T. Buckley on behalf of the marroicl unemployed said the unemployed had been used for the maintainanco of roads formerly done by permanent men. The County as a result had not benefited because rates in some ridings had been increased and the wages of the permanent men reduced. There were only 10 of an outside staff on the Borough and a great deal of the work was being done by unemployed. He alleged that extra work was not being given to the most deserving cases. He also alleged that the Hospital Board had dispensed with the services of a permanent man and replaced him with unemployed labour.

He complained at the conditions of the Bedford Road Camp under the Public Wjorks Department. Men Working in one camp could not earn enough to keep going and in some case') could work only three days a week.

Mr Jessop: Where is that camp? Mr Buckley: Out in the back. I dont know the name of it. Men would be willing to go to camps if the conditions were satisfactory. That would force people to employ ordinary labour and pay for it. Mr Jessop: I have found the average camps in good order and have not had complaints of this nature before. I wish you would cf.ve me the chapter and verse. ..Continuing' Mr Jessop said that the conditions Mr Buckley had spoken of regaining hmself was over a year ago. Mr Buckley drew attention to the fact the unemployed in Stratford were not getting enough to moot their expenses. He also said that so long as people could get labour subsidised by unemployed funds, no exit a work was ovailablc.

Mr Good on behalf of the single unemployed asked for similar conditions as obtained in the cities .

Mr Jessop. There are eight single men on the register in Stratford. Mr Anderson suggested that it would be worth consideration that the Public Works Department take over the whole of (he unemployed labour. That would mean that people wanting labour would have to pay for it and not. get it for nothing. That, he thought, would he the solution of the difficulty. The Mayor, Mr. J. W. McMillan, spoke of the communication to the

Board from the Council asking for a better allocation He caid t;:at there were several high salaried officers employed by the Board in administration. Yet the county committees only got 25s a week for their secretary.

Mr Jessop denied that extravagant salaries were paid and objected to the Mayor’s remarks.

Mr McMillan: We cannot get any information when we ask for details. We can only make assertions in order to get information we require. We should have mere information than we are getting. Considering that there were many high salaried men paid for administration, it was scandalous that the unemployed men should get such a pittance. Mr. Jessop: The only way in which the Board can do anything is by putting on more taxation. Mr McMillan: Yet the Board is giving away money in other directions. The buj.ling subsidy, for instance.

When the Board can give money away for building Mr Jessop: We are not giving it away. The building trade was dead, and we had to get the tradesmen back into work. The greater percentage went for labour.

Mr McMillan; 1 think it is scandalous. It is helping many who don’t need help, and it did not bring down the unemployment statistics to any appreciable extent. It is not justified at all. It is simply giving it away to people who can afford to pay for their building. It is a gift to them from the unemployment revenue. Mr Jessop; We are paying money to men who are being paid full award wages. The people would not build if they did not get a subsidy. Mr. McMillan: 1 disagree with you. If I build a house costing £IOOO and get a subsidy of £SO, is not that a gift?

Mr Jessop: No. It is helping to put men back in employmen. Mr. McMillan also vigorously condemned the treatment given to men with more than three children, saying that the Board should have dpne something better for these men instead cf giving money away on building. He reiterated tat money was being given for building at the expense of the actual unemployed.