The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-18 00:00:00

THE PREVAILING DISTRESS.

Great efforts are made by various bodies, including. Bishop
Ryan and his clergy, the Bradford Town Mission, and the
Roman Catholic priests, to mitigate the suffering which is
the result of distress and destitution prevailing in many
parts of Bradford and the district. The Roman Catholic
priests state that the distress among the class they represent
—the Irish poor—is too extensive and too deep for them to cope
with, and they have appealed earnestly for pecuniary assist-
asses f rom the general public. This not having been adequately
rendered, Canon Scruton, of St. Patick's, and Canon
lilotler, of St. Mary's, sought an interview with the mayor
on Saturday, in order, if possible, to devise some means of
assistance being rendered to them. The mayor, although
sensible of the severe distress prevailing among this section
of the commnnity, was of opinion that the distress in the
town was not so general as to warrant him taking any
official cognizance of it; although it is stated that his
worship has intimated that an influentially signed requisi-
tion would induce him to take the opinion of the in-
habitants upon the question. The Finance and General
Purposes Committee had the matter before them on the
Friday, and were of opinion that it was not necessary at pre-
sent to make any public appeal. A clromittee, of which
Mr. J. M. Tankard, J.P., is chairman, is charged with
dispensing relief to the necessitous poor in Bowling Ward,
having bad £5OO generously placed at their disposal for this
purpose by Mr. H. W. Ripley, MP. Mr. Tankard makes a
public appeal for additional assistance. He states that the
contribution of Mr. Ripley will soon be inadequate to enable
the committee "to cope with the widespread and increasieg
need." He staters that in many of the 250 cases found and
relieved by the Committee "there was actual famine, and
houses had been denuded of furniture and necessaries that
food might be procured."
The Mayor of Burnley has issued a circular calling a
meeting of the leading inhabitants of the town to consider
what shall be done to relieve the distress in the cotton
trade. There is a reduction of 5 per cent. being resorted
to in the town generally, and a notice to reduce 15 per cent.
has been given to the colliers at Cliviger.
The distress in Sheffield continues to increase, and the
severe frost caused a large number of laboyrers and plasterers
to come on the relief fund. In the Attereliffe district work
Is very scarce, and the scheme for the employment of the
distressed on the recreation grounds and in roadway relief
work, although very comprehensive cannot find labour for
one half of thcse who desire it. Hundreds of applicants have
had to be turned away. These men are in a really pitiable
condition and starving Cm want of food. The ladies'
committee find the greatest difficulty in meeting the
wants of the poor, and on Monday they opened
another sewing depot in the west end of the town, where the.
demand for clothing is enormous. Another sewing depBt
will shortly be opened in the district of the Holy Trinity for
the same purpose, and then three large establishments,
under the direction of the Mayoress and the ladies of the
town, will be provided for the employment of the poor
women, the clo,hing they make being distributed to the
poor through the agency of the relief committees of the
district.
The efforts put forth by the relief committees of East and
West Harlepool have had a satisfactory effect in alleviating
toe distress prevailing In the locality. Subscriptions have
come in very liberally in both towns. The gifts of coal from
the colliery proprietors in the neighbourhood have proved a
valuable auxiliary to the money subscriptions expended in
soup, bread, and grocery, which several commodities have
been dispensed to the amount of many hundreds of pounds
since the commencement of the movement.

The amount subscribed to the Leeds local relief fund is
£3,053, and the central committee have issued another
urgent appeal for subscriptions. In nearly every ward in
the borough a perfect organization is now at work through
the agencies of local committees and district visitors, who
visit and send a detailed report of each case to the central
committee, who deal with it. Since the establishment of
the fund on the 28th ult., a large sub-committee of the
general committee has sat daily at the Town-hall, re-
ceiving deputations, investigating report; and making
weekly allowances in money or provisions. On Saturday
afternoon a meeting of the whole of the visitors engaged in
the work of relief was held in order that they might receive
instructions for their guidance in examining cases and re-
porting thereon. A special distress relief fund has been
established in connexion with the Leeds Jewish Board of
Guardians. The butchers of Leeds carrying on business in
what are known as the Shambles have for three weeks most
liberally carried on a soup kitchen entirely on their own
account.
On Uonday the Cardiff Gtutrdlans opened the stone yards,
and 21 men came to work for relief. Many cases of destitu-
tion are reported in all parts of the town; 50 carpenters are
Idle, although in some instances they obtain assistance from
their societies. The masons are more severely affected.
Members of committees are finding plenty of active work to
do in going about from place to place and inquiring into
the circumstances of applications. At Swansea 300 cases
requiring relief are reported. At Newport much distress
prevails among the labouring classes.
The weekly meeting of the Southport Relief Committee
was held on Monday. The Rev. F E. 8 vreettn-, Churchtown,
reported that the distress was increasing in his district. The
amount given in relief for the aeek was upwards if £l4O.
The subscriptions now reach £1.050, anti half of this amount
has been expended. Three hundred pairs of blankets have
been distributed, and more are required. The tradesm2n of
the town are sending to the eommittee liberal contributions
of flannel and various kinds of groceries. Earnest appeals
are made for children's underclothing.

The distress in Preston is increasing, but it is believed
that private charity and the poor law are fully adequate to
meet all cases that may require attention. The authorities
In London are kept informed of the position of affairs by Mr.
Basil Cane, the Poor Law Inspector of the district, who re-
ceives reports. Most of the able-bodied men receiving re-
lief have been put to stone-breaking as a test, a labour yard
having been rented in Leighton-street In one relieving
officer's district 710 persons have been relieved in one
week.
A numerously-attended meeting of the citizens of Bristol
was held on Tuesday to consider the beat means of relieving
the distress in that city. The Mayor presided, and said that
the distress was of a character that would not be met by
poor-law relief, but it would be best dealt with by existing
organisations. Between £5OO and £6OO was collected ia the

room.
At the weekly meeting of the Dundee Relief Committee,
on Saturday, it was reported that £9OO had been expended
to date. In future the district inspector's report on appli-
cations for relief will be submitted to the scrutiny of the
parochial authorities. Some public improvements in Ar-
broath are suggested in order to provide employment.
On Monday the number of men employed by the Corpora-
tion of Edinburgh was only 370. A thaw having set in a
considerable number formerly on the list had resumed
their ordinary employments. At Leith 82 men were engaged
In cleanhig the streets' while the Dock Commission had an
addition to their stall in cleaning the quay aud adjoining
thoroughfares.
-

- -
Since the commencement of the Glasgow Unemployed
I;telief Fund 35.11/3 persons have been and are still being
relieved. The subscriptions amount to £11,319, and the
disbursements to £3,2v3, leaving a balance ot £3,116.