On This Day, 23 April 1918

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Tuesday 23 April 1918

SECURITY TO TENANTS

CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE SUPPORT THE NEW BILL

The hardship caused by the wives and families of sailors and soldiers on active service being turned out of their houses owing to them being purchased resulted in the Birmingham Citizens’ Committee last night passing a resolution urging the Government to support the Increase of Rents (Amendment) Bill now before Parliament and to extend its provisions to a include higher rental than that covered by the 1915 Act.

The Lord Mayor, who presided, remarked that while provision should made for the housing of munition workers the wives of men who were serving their country should be the last people to be disturbed, more particularly when the houses were purchased over their heads. Their needs should be protected subject to the national emergency.

Alderman James announced that the Water Committee were considering a scheme to provide open-air employment for discharged soldiers in connection with the Elan Valley re-afforestation scheme.