£5000 for a royal feed - 2/- for an unemployed man's child
This placard relates to the campaign organised by the National Unemployed Workers Movement against the Unemployment Act of 1934. The act set new rates of relief for the unemployed. Men over 21 were paid 17 shillings a week, women 15 shillings, and 2 shillings was the rate for a dependent child.
The children's rate was seen as particularly harsh. Many experts in child welfare thought it too low to ensure a healthy diet. In October 1935, following a long public campaign, the rate was increased to 3 shillings a week.
