"PERSONAL TOUCH."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 12

"PERSONAL TOUCH."

MEN IN RELIEF CAMPS.

WATCHING SOCIAL WELFARE.

A decision to ask the various social organisations in the Auckland province to look after the social welfare of the men in unemployment camps wan. made by the Metropolitan Unemployment Relief Committee yesterday. Among bodies suggested were the Rotary Club, Victoria League, Navy League, Lyceum Club, Penwoinen's Club, Little Theatre Society, Amateur Operatic Society, Savage Club, and the various Orphans clubs. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, who presided, eaid a decision of the Toe H movement to "adopt" a relief camp in tho Waitakeres was not in the best interests of the whole scheme. "If other bodies do this sort of thing, it may be that they will direct their energies to a camp that we have already fitted out," said Mr. Hutchison. "They may also improve the camp in the matter of amenitiee .and comforts so far ahead of other camps that discontent will be caused."

Sir George Richardson pointed out that the idea of the Toe H taking a camp under it*; wing was to get in personal touch with the men and look after their social welfare. Entertainments once a week of so were suggested, and visits to the families of the men in camps were proposed. It was not the intention to supply the men with goods such as the metropolitan committee supplied, so there would be no overlapping. The psychological condition of the men in the camps was a 'big matter and had to be considered.