19 SEPTEMBER 1925, Page 3

The Ministry of Health is trying a new device for

calling the West Ham Guardians to order. For the present the Guardians will not be allowed to handle money but will have to be content with vouchers for relief in kind up to the value permitted by the Ministry-115,000 a week. The Guardians have been paying out £20,000 a week and have stubbornly ignored the instruction to reduce the maximum relief from 59s. to 55s. If the Guardians refuse to carry on under these conditions the Ministry ought, in our opinion, at once to appoint a Com- mission to take over the duties.