The House of Commons on Friday, October 28th, gave a
second reading to the Local Authorities (Financial Provisions) Bill, which is designed to meet the difficulty caused by the Communist Borough Council in Poplar. If any borough council refuses to raise a rate, the central authority issuing the precept may itself be empowered to raise the rate in the defaulting borough. The Bill also makes outdoor relief; as well as indoor relief, in London a charge upon the Metrgpolitan Common Poor Fund for a year. Sir Alfred Mond promised " to see that as far as possible no board of guardians should act with undue extravagance at the expense of the others." It was pointed out that the promise could not be fulfilled while the guardians retained their independence. The boards which have adminis- tered outdoor relief with prudence will be penalized while those boards which, as in Poplar, have distributed doles to all who cared to ask for them will be encouraged in their extravagance. Whitechapel, for example, which is just as poor as. Poplar, will have its poor rates increased by 41.d. in the pound through this unfortunate measure.
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