ABSTRACT
The community of Hill Top and Carbrook had long been familiar with poverty. Hardship resulting from periods of trade recession, underemployment and 'layings off' had been directly experienced by most of the area's families in the years preceding the First World War when the community had, by and large, struggled and 'made do' -falling back upon its own resources rather than the despised official charity. The years between 1920 and 1935 were of great difficulty for both schools and community. Acrimonious dispute bedevilled industrial relations and industrial growth in the first seven years of the period. Since the schools recognized the general reluctance with which the neighbourhood regarded the boot tickets and garments coming from such a source, it became obvious that an additional scheme to provide such articles on a basis that was acceptable to the community was required.
