FABIAN TRACT No. 102. 

QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES: 

MetropolitanBorough Councils 


}U.'E 1900. 

SIR, 

In connection with your candidature for the office of 
Councillor, I should be obliged if you would be good enough to 
answer the following questions, and return the paper to me. 

I am, yours faithfully, 

Name of Elector-----------


Add1'ess of Elector__________ ·--·--------------····-·--·---···-·-·-·------------------------------·-----·--------··--· 

QUESTIONS. 

I.-PUBLIC HEALTH. 

Will you insist on :


I. An immediate increase in the number of 
Sanitary Inspectors, at least up to a minimum 
of one for every 2,500 houses? 
2. The employment of Women Sanitary 
Inspectors ? 
3· A systematic house-to-house inspection 
to ensure that e\·ery house is in a sanitary 
condition? 

4· The thorough application of the law 
against insanitary or overcrowded property, 
without respect of persons? 

s. The regi~tration of tenement houses in 
order to secure effective sanitary supervision? 
6. The complete regist\_ation and thorough 
inspection of all workshops-especially domestic 
workshops-bakehouses, dairies, laundries 
and slaughterhouses, and the regularvisitation of all outworkers? 
7-The enforcement of the law against the 
smoke nuisance and against offensive trades? 

8. The rigid enforcement of the law against 
unsound food, and the frequent taking of 
samples under the Food and Drugs Acts? 
ANSWERS. 


QUESTIONS. 

9· In cases of infectious disease, the supplyof free disinfectants, and the free distribution 
of information ? 

10. The enforcement of the law to preventthe spread of infectious disease from dairies 
supplying the borough, whether situate 
therein or not, and the closing of infected 
dairies? 
I I. The efficient paving, lighting, watering, 
and cleansing of all streets-back streets 
and courts as well as thoroughfares ? 
12. The regular, frequent, and strictlygratuitous collection of dust, particularly in 
the poorer districts? 
H.-HOUSING. 

To increase the house accommodation, will 
you support:


13. The clearing of small slum areas under 
Part II. of the Housing of the WorkingClasses Act, and effective co-operation with 
the County Council in larger schemes? 
I 4-The provision of house room for all persons 
compulsorily dishoused by the Council 
at, as nearly as possible, the rents previously

paid? 
I 5· The building of workmen's cottagesunder Part Ill. of the Housing of the Working 
Classes Act, I 89o, wherever possible? 

16. The buying or leasing ofsuitable houses 
for workmen's dwellings? 
I 7. The provision of municipal lodging 
houses for both sexes where required ? 


IlL-MUNICIPAL WORK. 
Are you in favor of:


18. The immediate provision of baths and 
washhouses in any part of the borough not 
already supplied ? 
19· The adoption of the Public Libraries 
Acts, and the establishment of branch libraries 
in suitable parts of the borough ? 

20. The supply of electricity hy the Borough 
Council itself, where still possible, and 
the supervision of private companies in the 
public interest? 
21. The provision of a general hospital for 
the use of the borough under the Public 
Health (London) Act, 1891, Sec. 7·? 
ANSWERS. 




QUESTIONS. 


ANSWERS. 


22. The provision of open spaces ; of concerts 
in public buildings; the planting of 
trees in the streets ; the erection of seats 
and shelters; of drinking fountains; and of 
free lavatory accommodation for each sex ? 
IV.-LABOR. 
Will you insist on :


23. Council employees being paid at Trade 
Union rates, and, where no such rates exist, 
at a minimum wage Gf 26s. per week ; a 
48-hours working week ; a week's holiday 
on full pay ; reasonable sick pay when ill 
or disabled ; full freedom of combination ; 
and the right of appeal by aggrieved employees 
to the Committee employing them ? 
24. Direct employment of tabor by the 
Council wherever possible? 
25· The insertion, in all contracts for supplies 
as well as for works, of clauses stipulating, 
under adequate penalties, which shall be 
rigidly enforced : 

(a) against sub-contracting or sweating?
(b) 
for payment of Trade Union rate of 
wages and observance of Trade 
Union hours :md conditions, for 
each trade, as specified in a schedule 
to the contract ? 
(c) 
that, wherever possible, the workingweek shall be 48 hours only ? 
(d) that in all boot and clothing contracts 
the whole work shall be done in 
the contractor's factory, and none 
given out? 
26. Co-operation with the Board of Guardians 
and the County Council, to find, in slack 
seasons, temporary useful and honorable employment 
for those out of work, by the arrangement 
of the public works in such a way 
as to increase employment at these periods?
27. The grant of accommodation in the 
Town Hall or other public building for the 
weekly meetings of Friendly Societies and 
Trade Unions, at cost of service? 
V.-A DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL. 
Will you vote for :


28. Evening meetings of the Council ? 
29. Admission of the press and the public 
to all Council meetings ? 

ANSWERS.

QUESTIONS. 

30. Publication of detailed sanitary reports 
for every part of the borough, shewing the 
separate death-rates for separate districts, and 
of complete·returns of all local charities ? 
31. A systematic canvass of the whole 
borough each year to ensure a complete 
register of electors ? 
32. Granting the town hall, at a nominal 
charge, for any public meeting convened by 
twenty ratepayers? 
VI.-MUNICIPAL AND TAXATION 
REFORMS. 
Will you:33
· Resist any attempt to weaken the 
County Council ? 
34· Urge the Borough Council to cooperate 
with the County Council in taking 
over the water and other monopolies? 
3S · Consent to the County Council laying 
new electric tramways within the borough 
wherever required?

36. Co-operate with the County Council 
for a better service of workmen's trains? 
37· Oppose the grant of an Electric Lighting 
Order to a private con1pany for any area 
already provided with a municipal supply? 

38. Put into operation any powers the 
Borough Council may possess for rating unoccupied 
land and houses ? 
39· Urge the Borough Council to supportthe municipal taxation of ground values, a 
further equalization of rates, and a uniform 
system of assessment for London ? 

40. Press for more drastic Parliamentarypowers for dealing with slum areas and the 
housing of the people ? 
41. Support the qualification of women to 
act on Borough Councils ? 
SŁg11ature of Caudzdate. 

Su TRACT roo, Metropolitan Borough Councils : their Powers and 
Duties. With Statistical Table. One Penny, or inepence per dozen. 

For this and list of other Tracts apply to the Fabian Society: address below. 

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