TOO DRASTIC?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 8

TOO DRASTIC?

RELIEF REGULATIONS.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS,

ECHO OF WORKER'S DEATH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.). WHANGATtEI, this day. Allegations have been made by some members of the WTtangarci Unemployed Relief Workers' Association that the illness and subsequent death of one of their number. Mr. Ivan Stewart, was contributed" to by "strict Departmental regulations r.hicli oliligc a relief worker to report personally for sustenance payments." It is staled that upon Mr. Stewart becoming ill his application for transfer from No. a scheme to sustenance was granted. Mr. Stewart went to bed on August '■'. ii Saturday, and on the following Wednesday his wife reported to the Wliangarei Labour Bureau to collect his 18/ sustenance allowance. She was informed that under the regulations it was absolutely necessary that her husband should report in person. Unless this was done the money could! not be paid out. It. is alleged that although the weather was wet and cold -Mr. Stewart left his bed and visited the Labour oilire. The following day, although seriously iil, lie again had to walk into (own to collect-' the money. It is alleged that the result of tins was an aggravation of his bronchial illness, which terminated last Monday in death.

On August 10, acting on behalf of Mr. Stewart, two delegates from the Unemployed Workers' Association interviewed Mr. A. J. Murdoch, M.P. They say that immediate attention was promised but that no assistance had been forthcoming up to the time of Mr. Stewart's death.

Mrs. Mary Stewart, wife of the deceased, said that on Monday, August r>, her husband went to bed, but on the Wednesday he walked to the Labour Bureau, where he received the authority tf> collect his sustenance. The following day, when he got out of lied to go to the Post Ollico for the money lie collapsed, and it was necessary for him to make the trip in a taxi. "My husband did not like the idea of my visiting tho bureau," Mrs. Stewart said, "but. last Wednesday, alter having received advice, from Mr. J. W. Carter, I went there. The officer gave me a special authority form, which he asked me to have completed. He also informed me that after being carried for the first week of si"kness my husband would no longer be a charge on the Unemployment Board. He advised us to fret in touch with the charitable aid authority. Tho following morning my husband w;is still confined to liis bed, and 1 collected without difficulty. Jt seemed hard that just when the money is most wanted in time of illness the regulations should cut off sustenance payments. Had it not been for the thought that we would have had to apply for charitable- aid my husband and 1 would have been spared suffering in the last few days. My husband went to hospital on Friday, and everyone who had been associated witli us in our time of trouble had done their best for us.' .

The regulations allow n. man on eiistenance to ba carried for one week'd sickness. A person authorised to do so, can collect his sustenance for tho week concerned, after which the applicant is no longer a charge on the Unemployment Board.

Considering that Mr. Stewart had not been admitted to the Whangarei Hospital until eight days after he was stated to have left hici bed to collect his pay, Dr. Daweon, assistant medical superintendent, said that it was most difficult to say whether such nn action had accentuated his illneee. If the regulations; compelled a man to leave his bed d> report they appeared too dratstie.