Mr. Geoffrey Drage, on behalf of the Denison House Committee
on Public Assistance, warned the public, in the Times of October 28th, that the effect of Sir Alfred Mond's Bill must be to increase the amount spent on outdoor relief. He pointed out that, while all the East-End boroughs have much the same amount of poverty to deal with, the rates of pauperism vary widely because some boards of guardians are careful and others are not. Thus - Poplar has 135 paupers• per 1,000, while Shore- ditch has 95; Stepney 80, Bethnal Green 75, and- Whitechapel only 22. For years past the faction- ruling in Poplar have deliberately sought to redistribute wealth by giving out-relief with a lavish hand, whereas in neighbouring boroughs the guardians have tried to discriminate between the honest poor and the wastrels who will not work Now that all London boroughs are to be allowed to charge the cost-of out-relief to the Common Poor Fund, guardians will be tempted to follow the evil example of -Poplar.
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