October 1937

Budget Enquiry in Dundee

Special Report to “People’s Journal”.

The Government’s national inquiry into how the weekly expenditure in the working-class houses is apportioned has been carried out smoothly and expeditiously in Dundee. Most of the houses selected at random have been visited, and the forms that had to be filled in will be collected early next week.

When I made enquiries of those in charge of the local arrangements I was told that “everything has gone swimmingly. Everybody seems to have cottoned on to the thing all right.”

“We got all the voluntary visitors and they concluded their call at the various homes last week. They have been calling again this week to see how the householders are getting on with the forms and see that they are properly filled up”.

I was also informed that out of 160 houses selected there were only 30 refusals. Some of the people visited were not qualified to fill in the forms. On inquiry it was found that the persons chosen were lodgers living in the house. The forms require to be filled in by householders.

The errors were due to the fact that at headquarters in London the names were chosen at random from old unemployment books exchanged for new ones during the summer, and there was nothing to show whether they were householders or not.

“I expect we will get anything between 80 and 90 completed forms, and if we get that number we shall be all right” an official told me.

From Sunday until today the persons chosen have got to keep an account of all their household expenditure, including what they spend on entertainment and other incidentals. When the forms have been checked and corrected, if necessary, they will be sent to London. Every form will be regarded as containing confidential information.

Similar forms will be filled in by the selected parties in January and again in April and July. The information collected will thus cover the various seasons of the year when expenditure on food, clothing and sport is different.

For every form filled in the householder receives half a crown. This, I was told, is not looked upon officially as a payment, but “just a little gesture on part of the Department”.

New Clinic Nears Completion

Dundee’s new clinic, where massage and electric treatment will be given free to those who cannot afford to pay the fees, is to be officially opened within the next week or two.

It is to be known as Dundee Orthopaedic and Rheumatic Clinic, and will be situated in the office buildings of Lilybank Foundry. Facilities for equipping this site as a clinic have been offered gratuitously by an anonymous donor, and arrangements are almost complete for the opening of the centre.

Persons suffering from ailments requiring massage or electric treatment will receive free service from qualified staff.

Following an appeal for public subscription a sum of about £700 has been subscribed. A meeting of directors is to be held on Monday, when final arrangements will be made for the opening. It is expected that some notable person will be asked to perform the ceremony.

Miss Agnes G. Stewart, the secretary, has spared no effort to make the clinic a complete success, and she is looking forward to the day when her labour of the past few months will materialise.

Hallowe’en Gateaux

Containing Trinkets
From 1/- upwards
See our windows
Keiller’s

Palace and Plaza

Week commencing 11th October for six days.
Dick Powell and Madeleine Carroll in
“On the Avenue” (U)
With Alice Faye and Ritz Brothers.

Sequel to Foundry Strike

Blackness Moulders “Paid Off”
By Our Own Reporter
The recent strike of moulders at Blackness Foundry has resulted in an amazing sequel whereby about 100 men have been thrown idle.

Following the decision of the men employed at the foundry to come out on strike because one of the employees refused to join the Moulders’ Union, the management decided to dispense with the services of all the moulders, including apprentices, labourers and iron dressers.

It has been decided to close the moulding shop meantime, although it is believed that in the near future it may be reopened as a machine shop. This would necessitate the laying of new floor in the foundry.

The men affected comprise some 46 moulders, 20 apprentices, labourers and iron dressers.

Gloves

Extensive range of Ladies’, Gents’ and Children’s winter gloves.
Wool, Leather and Fur backs.
Keenest prices.
Wilson’s Bonanza,
127, Overgate, Dundee.

What’s On at Dundee Cinemas & Theatres Next Week

Broadway – All week – the revue of the moment “Good Night, Good Night” starring the Horsburgh Brothers, Book now 3292.

Kinnaird – All Week – Anna Neagle and Tullio Carminati in “London Melody” (A) with Robert Douglas; also “The Mighty Treve” (A), with Noah Beery, jun., and Barbara Read.

Playhouse – All Week – Katherine Hepburn and Franchot Tone in “Quality Street” (U); Rosalind Keith and Allen Brook in “Motor Madness” (U); Coloured Cartoon, “Bunny Mooning”.

Parkins

Wholesome for the bairns’ tea are these biscuits, and so easy to make.
Take 7 oz flour, 4 oz oatmeal, 3 oz lard or butter, 6 oz treacle, 2 oz sugar, HALF oz mixed spice or ginger nutmeg, HALF teaspoonful bicarbonate soda, 1 teaspoonful milk.

Mix the dry ingredients. Melt the butter and treacle, pour in soda which has devolved in the milk. Form into about 14 balls, and place on greased tin in a slow oven for about 15 minutes.

The Jute Trade Crisis

(From Bellman’s Budget)

No avenue is being left unexplored in the determined effort to save Dundee’s jute industry from the extinction that is threatened by the unrestricted deluge of material that is being imported from India.

Not content to wait idly on the result, if any, of the deputation to the President of the Board of Trade, the joint committee of the Corporation and employers’ and employees’ representatives has decided to enlist the aid of the Secretary for Scotland in stirring up the Government to take some immediate and effective action to prevent the city’s staple industry from becoming derelict.

The fate of the industry does not only effect the 30,000 workers directly employed in it. It is of national importance that the industry of such wide ramifications should be saved from extinction.

The road to compromise has been closed by the Indian manufacturers. The have no desire to ease the stranglehold which cheap labour and longer hours have enabled them to put on the home trade.

Government intervention is the only solution of the trouble. Dundee cannot hope to compete against chap Indian labour. The flood of imported goods is swelling rapidly, and the need for intervention grows daily more clamant.

In the new trade agreement with India, the negotiations for which are expected to conclude shortly, there must be some form of protection for the Dundee trade. Otherwise the industry is finished, and no such Government can look on such a disastrous possibility without concern. The Government must act and act quickly.

Duke Crosses in “Fifie”

The Duke of Kent, travelling to Balmoral from St Andrews, crossed the Tay by ferry steamer on Thursday.

When the Duke boarded the 2.30 boat he was almost unnoticed, and it was not until he came our of his car, a Rolls Royce, that he was recognised by the passengers. Hatless and wearing a light grey flannel suit and suede shoes, the Duke leaned over the side of the boat and appeared greatly interested in the view of Dundee from the water.

Passengers crowded round the rail of the upper deck, eager to catch a glimpse of him. At Craig Pier the Duke himself took the wheel of the car and was first to leave the steamer. He was welcomed by Chief Constable Neilans, who had with him a police car as escort.