RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17, 21 January 1931, Page 3

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S WOEK,

MANNA HOUSE NOT REOPENING.

Although during December there was a falling-off in applications for relief arising out of unemployment, the relief committee of the Auckland Hospital Board has its hands full this month.

"I understand we are running the relief staff to a standstill," said Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., at yesterday's meeting of the board.

Mr. W. K. Howitt, chairman of the committee, said that one member of the staff had been taken ill, and the relief officer had lost his voice. The amount of distress the committee came in contact with was heartrending.

When the report of the committee was under consideration, Mr. A. M. S. Laing said he would take the opportunity of protesting against the reopening of Manna House. The report stated that Mr. Wallace had been given power to arrange for the reopening of the house for the purpose of supplying to single men, on presentation of orders from the board, two meals per man per day, at a cost of not more than 6/ a man a week.

Mr. ■ Howitt: Manna House is not to be reopened. ,

Mr. Wallace: That is so. It was left in my hands to arrange it if the urgency existed.

Mr. Howitt said he was proud of the manner in which the people of Auckland had responded to appeals for food