PRIORITY URGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 10

PRIORITY URGED.

PENSIONERS' NEEDS. HOUSING SCHEME CLAIMS. REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT. In furtherance of the representations which have already been made to the City Council to make special provision in a housing scheme for old age pensioners a conference of religious and benevolent bodies and members of the Legislature was held at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Forty old age pensioners, belonging to the Old People's Followship, were present, as well as representatives of the clergy group and the City Council. The Hon.* F. E. Lark, M.L.C., who presided, and Mr. A. G. Osborne, M.P., represented the Government.

| After apologising for the absence of other members of the Government Mr. Lark said that he could assure those present that the Government would do all it could to further the claims of the old people. It was desired to help the people from a humanitarian idea. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet and me mbers of Parliament were all in sympathy with the desirability of providing shelter for the aged for the rest of their lives.

Mr. Kenneth H. Melvin, a member of the clergy group, expressed confidence that the pensioners would have increasing consideration in the policy of the Government. The plea that was being made was not only for the pensioners of Auckland but for the whole of the Dominion. Their numbers were constantly growing and at present they numbered one-fortieth of the population. There were 3000 in the metropolitan area. "In Spite of Legislation." "There is no suggestion of a critical approach, and it is our desire to work whole-heartedly with the Government," Mr. Melvin said. He added that half of the 2/6 pension increase had been mulcted by the increase in rents, leaving only 1/3 to meet the increased cost of living. Mr. Lark: In spite of the legislation? Mr. Melvin replied in the affirmative and said that the legislation did not affect the quarters where the pensioners lived. Last March a deputation had waited on the City Council and asked it to include a garden block, or a suburban garden suburb, for pensioners in its housing scheme. The clergy group strongly supported placing in the forefront of the national housing scheme the needs of the pensioners.

The Rev. W. C. Wood, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, said that he was not present in that official capacity, but to show his v sympathy with the movement. Those " present would admit that efforts were being made by the Government to grapple with the problem, but the conference would impress upon the representatives of the Government the importance of the housing of old age pensioners and the indigent as the first claim in the housing scheme.

Suffering of the Poor. Speaking as a chaplain among the people in the poorest areas, the Rev. H. A. Johnson said it'was heartbreaking to see their suffering. The depression had driven hundreds of the aged into the poorest parts. "" A scheme which had been placed before the City Council was referred to by Mr. E. Gill. It provided for the erection of a block of 24 houses at a cost of £18,000, as a start in the housing of the pensioners. Stich a scheme was submitted as a suitable one for the use of the national credit. The conference was also addressed by Mr. Osborne and Mr. E. F. Andrews, chairman of the City Council property committee. A resolution was adopted urging upon the Government the necessity for giving priority in the national housing scheme to making provision for the pensioners and others in similar circumstances.