Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress. : Appendix Volume XXVII. Replies by Distress Committees to Questions circulated on the subject of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905.
- Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress 1905-09
- Date:
- 1909
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress. : Appendix Volume XXVII. Replies by Distress Committees to Questions circulated on the subject of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
45/102 (page 33)
![aUESTION 2. In the event of the renewal of the Act, in which ways, if any, should it be amended ? ASTON MANOR. See answer to Question 1. BARNSLEY.—So far as tliis Borougli is concerned there is no need for tlie renewal of the Act or any modified form of it. The committee have not met for practically twelve months. BARROW-IN-FURNESS.—-Set' answer to Question 1. BIRKENHEAD.—Financial clauses need amending. Until some scheme of work is provided little good can be done. Wliat is required is that schemes such as reclamation of land from sea, draining of marshes, afforestation, etc., should be provided in various parts of the countr_y, wdiitlier all the towns, etc., within easy distance could send their unemployed. Such schemes might be worked by groups of towns. These would require Government grants, but would prol)ably turn out profitably eventually. Powers should be given dealing with the unem- ployable, tramps, and wastrels, who should be segregated in centres and made to work. BIRMINGHAM.—,S<?(? answer to Question 1. BLACKBURN.—Operations of Committee suspended. BOLTON.—Further powers might be given to Distress Committees having powers of a Central Body to enable tliem to deal more effectually with the unemployable, i.e., the idle and undeserving, by means of joint labour colonies, with power given to justices for detention for limited periods. At present the expenses of labour colonies (other than the establishment charges of the Central Body and their expenses in relation to the acquisition of land) which will be incurred by the Central Body in connection with the estaljlishment, maintenance, and working of the farm colony, the remuneration, maintenance, and accommodation of per- sons employed, the payment of rates, taxes, or assessments, or for any other purpose in relation to the farm colonj^, are expected to be defrayed out of volun- tary contributions or otherwise than out of rates, vide Order of Local Govern- ment Board dated 10th October, 1905, Art. VIII., 4. These conditions practically render the establishment of a farm colony impossible, because supposing the voluntary contributions or other receipts were not forthcoming in any year the money exi:)ended on the colony would be wasted. BOOTLE. BOURNEMOUTH.—The Act should be amended by the appointment of a central authority in London, who w^ould have power to inaugurate and carry out schemes of national importance, such as reclamation of foreshores, coast protection works, cleansing and making navigable disused canals and waterways, and the affores- tation of waste lands. The local Distress Committees, the constitution of which could hardly be improved upon, should confine their operations more ]3articularly to labour bureau work, and the selection of men for employment on the national works, which should be paid for out of the National Exchequer. BRADFORD.—If provision could be made whereby the owner of lands wliich are at present unusable owing to their being covered with spoil liea])s or under- mined by quarry holes could be authorised to allow the Distress Committee to contract for the conversion of such lands for building or arable purposes the Committee would always be able to deal promptly with applJ'canls. As it is many weeks or months often elapse before work can be found, and this not only raises hopes in the minds of the unemployed which cannot be fulfilled, iDut](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24400038_0045.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
