CHARITY AND THE COAL STRIKE. pre THE EDITOR 011 . THE

"SPECTATOR...3 Srn,—The characteristics of a widespread coal strike in its re- sults are that, as coal becomes abnormally dear, manufactures

and other businesses which for coal is a. necessity have to be closed. There is thus out-of-work, accompanied by a lack of fuel for heating and cooking which it may be very difficult for the community to supply.

If the strike does not last long voluntary assistance in co- operation with the assistance of the Poor Law and the means provided by the School authorities may suffice to meet distress. Possibly also grants may be made by the Government to Dis- tress Committees, but if the position became very serious the Government would have to intervene on a large scale, and become responsible for coping with it.

The following suggestions are made for dealing with the distress by local committees :— 1. Local committees representative of the municipal council, charitable and other agencies, such as school children's care committees, the Poor Law guardians, clergy of all denomi- nations, employers of labour, and working men, &a., should be formed in areas convenient for administration.

2. Applicants should be required to apply to these com- mittees; or if cases of want are notified to them, such cases should be visited by members or officers of these committees.

3. It is very important to avoid panic by preparation, and to organize the work of relief so as to avoid crowding at the office or offices of the committees.

4. The minimum inquiry that should be undertaken consists of a visit to the home, and of a reference made to an employer or some other trustworthy person.

5. The inquiry should be made by members of committees and others who have had some experience in relief work. They may in many instances require the assistance of one or more paid officers.

6. If there is a Charity Organization Committee their assistance should be obtained with a view to help, inquiry, and co-operation, and they should be asked if they know any of the cases.

7. There should be active co-operation and exchange of in- formation with the School authorities, and the arrangements for feeding school children should be extended if there is distress among them.

8. To ensure co-operation with the guardians it will be well to ascertain from them whether cases are known to them; and the guardians might be asked to supply a list of the names of persons in receipt of parochial assistance. Similarly lists of those relieved by the committee should be sent to the guardians from time to time. There should be a division of labour between the Board of Guardians and the committee in dealing with cases.

9. Where there is a mutual registration office, it should be ascertained at the outset whether they know the applicant, and the names of those relieved should be furnished to it so as to prevent overlapping and promote co-operation.

10. Assistance should be given by the committee only to persons who have settled and decent homes and a good industrial record.

11. Relief in money should be the rule, if necessaries can be purchased at reasonable rates. With regard to the scale of relief, it may be suggested that in ordinary conditions the standard of trade unions' out-of-work pay may be accepted in the case of a family—say about 10s. or 12s. a week.

12. Relief in kind is not recommended. If, however, such relief is given, it should be given by orders on any respectable tradesman in the neighbourhood. An arbitrary and injurious interference with the custom of the smaller and poorer shop- keepers in the district is thus avoided.

13. Relief should not be given at the office, but should be taken to the homes of the applicants. In this way crowding at the office may be avoided and useful information sometimes obtained.

14. In the difficulties of a coal strike : (a) Fuel may be supplied if tho local committee happen to have means for obtaining a supply of it at a reasonable cost ; (b) Or arrangements could bo made with gas companies for cooking by gas at the homes of the poor; or central cooking places might be utilized or started.

(c) Cooked food might be supplied from local purveyors on terms arranged.

- Charity Organisation Society, Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, S.W.