On This Day
On This Day, 24 August 1917
On 24, Aug 2017 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld
Birmingham Daily Post
Friday 24 August 1917
FOOD COMMISSIONER FOR THE MIDLANDS
APPOINTMENT OF MR. R. J. CURTIS
The Clerk to the Birmingham Board of Guardians (Mr. R. J. Curtis) has been appointed Food Commissioner for the Midland Division, which comprises the counties of Warwick, Worcester, Stafford, Salop, and Hereford, with a population of 3 1/2 millions, and includes 154 local authorities. Since the war Mr. Curtis’ services have been requisitioned by Government departments in the organisation of various movement, notably the Prince of Wales’ Fund, schemes for utilising institutions as military hospitals, the military tribunal, and the National Service scheme (of which he was Deputy Commissioner).
Lord Rhondda has acceded to the request of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the Board of Guardians that arrangements shall be made whereby Mr. Curtis can exercise a general supervision of the more important duties attaching to his official connection with Poor Law administration and the local tribunal.
The Divisional Commissioner’s headquarters will be at the Union Offices, Edmund Street, Birmingham, but these offices must not be confused with the Food Control Office for Birmingham at Newhall Street. Mr. A. J. Johnson, who has been acting as the Birmingham Sub-Commissioner for Trades under the National Service scheme, has been appointed Deputy Divisional Commissioner.
A series of conferences between the Divisional Commissioner and representatives of local food committees will be held shortly throughout the Midland Division. The Birmingham conference is fixed for August 31.
The Divisional Food Commissioners are appointed for the purpose of supervising the execution of the Food Controllers instructions, co-ordinating the work of the Local Food Committees, and suggesting improvements in administration as the experience gained may show to be desirable.
The sugar distribution scheme is the immediate matter to engage the attention of the Food Control Local Committees, but other important duties may be entrusted to them in connection with the distribution of other essential food supplies.
