"GRAVE INJUSTICE."

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19351, 7 March 1935, Page 2

"GRAVE INJUSTICE."

THAMES RELIEF RATES. " i Borough And County. B CLASS MEN. COMMITTEE AGAIN PROTESTS.

At the monthly meeting of the Thames Unemployment Committee iast evening, -dissatisfaction was again expressed regarding the position of the B class workers in the Thames Borough and County, and also the variation in pay between the two groups. There were present: The Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor (chairman), Messrs. S. Smith (certifying officer), D. Mackay, J. McCormick, W. Boswell and the secretary, Mr. A. Chapman. In reply to a letter from the committee, Mr. G. C. Godfrey, Commissioner for Unemployment, stated that the question of Thames allocations had been fully considered, but it was regretted that the increase provided as the result of the introduction of the new scale of relief was the maximum practicable, and no further improvement could be effected. The slight reduction suffered by. B class men in the County was unfortunately unavoidable if a substantial increase was to be made, as it had been, in the relief provided for men Avith the larger families. The provision of a somewhat lower scale of relief to districts outside the metropolitan or town areas was the accepted policy throughout the Dominion, and so far as the County district of Thames was concerned, while they might not be in line with the Borough, the County men were now receiving more than they did previously, with the exception of the case of the B class men quoted above. The increase provided for Borough men was even more favourable and required no comment. Mr. Boswell considered the reply inadequate and entirely unsatisfactory.

Mr. Mackay was of the same opinion and could see no justification for the variation in the rates of pay. It was decided that the question should be taken further and a protest forwarded to the Minister for Employment,, expressing extreme disappointment at the reply from the Board, as the committee was still strongly of the opinion that a grave injustice was being done to the men affected.