POPLAR’S POVERTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1921, Page 10

POPLAR’S POVERTY.

MONEY FOR UNEMPLOYED. CAUSE OF RATE REVOLT. What exactly is the position in Poplar, which is in the public eye as a district that does not pay its rates and has been alluded to as "the famine area” ? A London Daily Chronicle representative recently paid a visit of investigation to the district, which is largely dependent for its weNbeing or otherwise on the ships which sail in and out of the docks in the neighborhood. The outstanding fact is that unemployment is incomparably worse than it was 12 months ago.

Last year Poplar Guardians were being asked for practically no out-relief for cases in which the head of the family was an unemployed man.

In one week 2608 “cases” in which unemployed men were concerned were granted out-relief. Poplar authorities reckon that five individuals —that is, the father and motjier and three children —form the average “case,” although there are eight and nine children in many instances. AVhat the distress means in terms of individuals can be easily computed.

At the moment 15,135 individuals are in receipt of out-relief in Poplar, compared with 3499 for the same period last year. This total, of course includes the old people, whose demands on the guardians do not fluctuate as do those of the able-bodied men.

Out-relief, in money or kind, according to the circumstances of the applicant, allows 10g for a man and wife, plus the rent where necessary, (is fid for the first child, and 5s for each subsequent child. Unemployment benefit, the parents’ earnings, and Service pension beyond 10s are deducted in arriving at the relief allowed. As an authority on the economic conditions of the district commented, to the Daily Chronicle representative, “this scale will not, allow a luxurious existence. On the other hand, it can be seen that tales of the district being a famine area must be taken with a grain of salt. “If there is one board of guardians which has done its duty by the poor it is the Poplar Board. No one who has had genuine need to back up his demand, has refused.” A tragic commentary on this story of able men who are willing to work, Lut who cannot get work, is supplied by the ships which are “lying up” in the docks| General trade stagnation is the reason given locally 'for the bad position in which this dock-side district find itself. “If you don.’t put cargoes into the ships the ships won’t sail,” said one authority. “And until other countries have the money to buy our goods, and we have money to buy theirs, it seems as if the ships must stay where the.y are.” “High freightage” is another explanation offered by the people of Dockland for the bitter poverty prevailing.