DEPTFORD COMMITTEE.

Chairman-THOMAS W. MARCHANT, Esq.

Rev. J. A. ASTON. *Mr. H. BARE.

Mr. W. M. BASDEN.
Rev. H. S. BROWN.
Mr. J. H. COLE.

Mr. G. CRICKMORE.
*Rev. H. G. CUNDY, D.D.

*Mr. W. DAWSON.
*Rev. W. DODGE.

*Miss P. H. DODGE.
Rev. M. FANNAN.
*Miss GLADSTONE.
*Mr. R. HALE.

*Miss B. M. HAMMOND.

*Rev. T. HILL.

*Mr. W. G. HOLLOWAY.

*Mr. GEO. G. HUNT.

*Mr. W. KEMP.

*Rev. P. S. LOCKTON.

Rev. J. MALCOLMSON.
Miss MARTIN.
Mr. J. J. PAKES.

*Miss A. PIKE,

*Rev. R. PRATT.

*Mr. W. RoWLEY.

Rev. R. GARDNER SMITH.

* Mr. EDWARD SMITH.
*Miss STUBBINS.

Rev. J. W. A. STURDER.
*Miss TOPLEY.

*Rev. E. W. TURNER.

Rev. J. M. VAUGHAN.

Mr. H. C. WALKER.

Rev. J. C. WETHERELL.
Rev. T. WoOLMER.

Rev. I. MORLEY WRIGHT.

THE LONDON & COUNTY BANKING COMPANY, LIMITED-
DEPTFORD BRANCH, THE BROADWAY.

THE Committee, in presenting its Fifteenth Annual Report, begs leave to thank the inhabitants of the district and subscribers generally for the support , received during the past year.

The Committee would venture to point out how necessary it is that there should be some organised body to undertake the work of rendering assistance to the poor and afflicted, ever to be found in our midst, and that it is the plain duty of every one who has the means to do what he can towards succouring the distress and alleviating the affliction of his less fortunate neighbours.

The Committee is often compelled to hear facts which are an exceeding 'bitter cry' of nature, for food, for rest, for a week or more at the seaside or

in the country, or even, as it sometimes happens, for a place in which to lay the head and die.

The members of the Committee make bold to consider themselves the agents of those in the neighbourhood who can afford the money, but not the time, necessary for charitable work among the poor. They are all themselves subscribers to its funds, and believe they are doing work beneficial to the entire neighbourhood and necessary for the comfort of those living in the wealthier residential districts. The Committee believes that it is in a great measure owing to its action that there are fewer cases of distress and of begging in the streets, as it is well known that any worthy applicant is sure of relief at any of the offices of the Society. The Committee therefore confidently looks for the necessary funds to enable it to carry on its work, and would also beg for what is not less valuable-the voluntary personal help of those able to give

The Committee meets every Tuesday evening to deal with cases that have arisen during the week, and during the past year it has never been without such cases. The members work sometimes for one hour, sometimes for two or more (of course quite gratuitously); and for the purpose of visiting among the poor and to answer and attend to inquiries, as well as to give immediate relief in urgent cases, to a limited extent, an experienced paid Agent devotes his whole time to the work of the Society. The Committee assures the subscribers that, what with visiting the sick and poor, either at their own request or at the request of private individuals interested in their cases, what with making reports on such cases, and preparing for the weekly meetings, and what with calling upon friends for the subscriptions they are good enough to give, the whole time of their Agent is fully occupied in the large district stretching from the Old Kent Road Station on the West to Greenwich on the East. Besides this, the Honorary Secretary finds a good deal to do in communications with subscribers, with the Central Office, with Hospitals and Convalescent Homes, and in the various operations of the Committee.

During the year no case which, in the judgment of the Committee, appeared eligible, has been sent empty away, but it is only fair to say that local subscriptions alone have not sufficed to produce this result. The Committee is thankful to state that when local means have failed it has been able in several cases successfully to appeal to persons residing in other parts of London and the country, who, knowing the wants of the neighbourhood, have generously come forward with assistance.

The Committee would, however, respectfully suggest that the town of Deptford contains wealthy residents enough to provide all that is really necessary in ordinary times, and would in all kindness call attention to the large number of small sums as set down in the report, which evidently do not by any means represent the share which the donors, if they really understood the matter, would desire to take in the work of a Society which professes, and if well supported undertakes, to deal thoroughly with all relief cases, except those which properly belong to the Poor Law Guardians, and which nought but the public purse can possibly meet.

The Committee gives help in the following, among other ways:

1.-TEMPORARY HELP DURING A SHORT ILLNESS OR SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT. Sometimes a grant, often a loan only is sufficient, and it not unfrequently happens that a worker's mate will become joint security with him for a loan. As a rule such loans are punctually repaid at the rate of from 6d. to 2s.. per week, according to circumstances. No interest is charged on any loan.

2. HELP TO SEND A PATIENT TO A CONVALESCENT HOME.

The Central Society has a number of beds in these homes kept at its disposal at various seaside and other places, and the Committee can almost always find for an eligible applicant such accommodation as may best suit his special case. If the patient or his friends can afford it, they pay the whole (reduced) cost;

if not, the Committee pays a portion or the whole cost, including the fare there and back, according to circumstances. Many of the railway companies take such patients at a reduced rate.

3.-HELP TO GET TOOLS, CLOTHES, OR FURNITURE OUT OF PAWN.

The Committee keeps a register of every case, and probably 80 to 90 per cent. of the very poor of London are on the books of one or other of the thirty-nine local Committees of the Society. It is thus not very difficult to challenge any who may attempt to trade on charity, and to sift them from those who are really deserving. This is of course quite beyond the power of any private person, or of a small merely local society. An impostor removing from one district to another can easily prey upon each local Society in turn, but this is almost an impossibility in cases brought before one of the Committees of the Charity Organisation Society. When, however, the unworthy are sifted out, there remain a large number whom sickness, or bereavement, or want of employment, has left stranded, destitute, and needing help; they have often pawned or sold everything rather than own their poverty, and it not unfrequently happens that the visit of the Agent or District Visitor reveals a home without bed or furniture, and often without fire or food. Tools are gone, and the breadwinner can therefore get no work; or clothes are gone, and he cannot go out; or credit is exhausted, and the children are dying of cold and hunger, waiting for Saturday, when father will get his first week's wages after his illness.' The Committee have many such cases to deal with; and help, to be efectual here, must not only be liberal but prompt.

4. BY LETTERS FOR HOSPITALS, FOR ARTIFICIAL LEGS, ARMS, TRUSSES, AND OTHER SURGICAL APPLIANCES.

These can generally be obtained from the Central Society by any Committee desiring them and this Committee would venture to suggest that no better use could be made of such letters, &c., than by sending them either to the Deptford Committee or to the Central Society. The sender may rest assured that any such letter sent will be properly used.

5. THE COMMITTEE CAN HELP RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN DEALING WITH PERSONS SOLICITING AID.

It is part of the Agent's duty to investigate and report upon any case that may be sent to the office, whether the sender be a subscriber or not. It sometimes happens that the inquirer, on learning the facts of the case, himself takes it up and sees it through, giving or obtaining from friends all necessary help; in other cases the inquirer hands the case over to the Committee, promising to find aid up to a certain limit, ard leaving the Committee to do whatever may be necessary beyond. The Committee is very thankful for co-operation in either of the above ways. But it sometimes happens that the inquirer is satisfied with only calling attention to the case--that is, handing it over to the Society, that he may get rid of a troublesome matter-and forgetting to send some contribution in aid. The Committee has had cases so sent which have cost pounds, and while all practicable help is gladly given, the pleasure would be enhanced if the application were accompanied by such a subscription as the status of the inquirer would warrant.

It is sometimes said that cases are investigated, and many searching questions asked, and then no help, or but trifling help, is granted; or, as it is sometimes tersely put, 'There is much investigation, and but little relief. To this the Committee would reply, that while it is contrary to principle to grant (more than temporary) relief without investigation, the amount of relief must depend on the state of its funds. There are certain types of genuine cases, which are constantly recurring, and which are always relieved; and there are others, and these far too numerous, in which no help the Committee could afford would be of any real service, or do more than stave off, for a week or two, the evil day when the Poor Law, with its unlimited funds, must become the only

resource.

COLONEL M. LE FER TAYLOR, R.A., Rushgrove House, Woolwich.

Hon. Secretary.

REV. J. BOND, Ramsay House, Shooters' Hill.

Charity Agent-Mr. J. HARRINGTON.

Collector-Mr. H. J. FABling.

REPORT.

THE Comparative mildness of the winter of 1883 made the 'case' work of this branch of the Society lighter than usual. The Committee wish to remind the public that they are prepared to investigate every case of distress which is brought under their notice, and to do their best to provide adequate relief for it. This, of course, cannot always be done directly from the funds in hand, but the necessary money is sought from other sources. This fact is mentioned

because it is frequently objected that office expenses are very heavy, and that they bear an undue proportion to the amount spent in actual relief. In the balance sheet, for instance, of this year, a cursory reader would compare the sum given in relief with the large sum devoted to other matters, and would be tempted to complain of waste. But the fair way to look at the subject is to see the number of cases dealt with, to remember that it takes as much time and labour to investigate an undeserving or ineligible case as a good one, and to reflect that the same tolerably constant amount given for machinery would enable us to distribute far larger sums for the immediate advantage of the deserving poor.

In July last a branch of the Metropolitan Association for Befriending Young Servants was started in this union. It is hoped that the cordial cooperation of this Society with it will tend to promote a more general intercommunication among those who are working, more or less disjointedly, for the benefit of the poor.

Our relations with the Society for the Relief of Distress continue to be thoroughly harmonious, and produce much good.

The Committee are glad to be able to report that a lady has been added to their number, and would gladly welcome two or three more to attend their weekly meetings, or to visit regularly and watch such cases as have been relieved by them.

A closer relationship with North Woolwich has also been established by the election of the new Vicar, the Rev. A. D. Piper; and regular co-operation with the Poor Law Guardians is maintained.

Two collections have been made in churches during the past year. The Committee sincerely trust that the parochial clergy and ministers of all denominations will encourage their people to support us with money and with personal service. It is most desirable to make the Committee of such a Society as ours thoroughly representative.

This Committee strongly approve of the issue of a joint Report, as tending to show that our work in this district is not isolated, but part of one great organisation, which includes every part of the metropolis.

Subscriptions are urgently needed, and special donations to meet the requirements of the ensuing winter. The population of this union amounts to 80,000, and the work, and consequently the income, of the working classes is very precarious. One of the leading gentlemen in Charlton reports that in the course of the last few years the population there has been doubled, while property has diminished 50 per cent. by the removal of the wealthier inhabitants.

The Committee wish also to point out that though the annual subscriptions have increased 10 per cent., yet the gain is no adequate set-off against the loss of an average £40 per annum, which came to this branch by the generous gift of Mr. F. Peek for the relief of cases sent by the School Board offers.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES.

UNDESERVING.

538c. A widow applied through the School Board for a gift of boots and clothes to enable her son to attend school. On inquiry it was found that she was in reality quite indifferent whether the boy attended or not, and that she was in the habit of drinking freely. She had also made false statements to the relieving officer at the time of her husband's death, affirming that she had had no assistance from his club, though she was in receipt of £6.

REFERRED TO GENERAL INSTITUTIONS.

515c. This illustrates the work of the Committee in connection with the Society for the Relief of Distress. A widow asked for help to obtain needlework or charing. First of all one of her children, aged ten, was sent to the Soldiers'