I could not finish this yesterday, and now complete it while the evidence goes on. We had a long day yesterday. We saw a large orphan school—1,300 children in separate houses on a large estate, with river running thro’ it, church, and school. It was built by a poor lad, very forlorn in Glasgow, who resolved to help children if he could. He is dead; but his daughter showed us over. It is one of those institutions where they make a point of having no capital invested, or funded income; they say all depends on prayer. There is a sanatorium for phthisis, and a farm for sane epileptics close by. We hear that trade in Paisley is very brisk, and the demand for girls in the factories is practically unlimited; the wages often £1 or £2 a week, and some manufacturers have a very high standard of duty. The Coatses have built beautiful lodging-houses and clubs for the girls who work there. They would teach girls work, which is readily learnt. We went over a large poor-house and lunatic asylum, and attended a parish relief committee. I am longing to be home.
September, 1907.
To Miranda.
I had an interesting interview with Mr. Mackay on Saturday about giving evidence before Poor Law Royal Commission. It seems he is a fellow worker of Mr. Crowder’s, hence his wisdom. I liked him much. By the way, at Islington there was in the chair a Mr. Robarts, a member of the L.C.C., an ally of Mr. Murphy’s there, and a large builder. He told us such interesting things about the Labour Leaders there. Also he put very clearly the present difficulty of employing old or slightly disqualified men at any wages, owing to the Trade Union rules now; but he added that the working men were aware of the difficulty, and that the Amalgamated Engineers were considering the possibility of dividing the men themselves into 1st, 2nd, 3rd class, and fixing different rates. I had a long interview with Mr. Hoole on Saturday to look over the Oxford plans. Also the University itself wants to build cottages on a farm of theirs, and wants me to send his address.
Red Cross Hall,
December 14th.
To Miranda.
Burns is quite keen about the Wandle scheme; is sanctioning unemployed money for clearing the area on its banks, used for dust. It will then be made into a garden. He will not, after seeing our photographs, have the river straightened.
POOR LAW COMMISSION
1907.