UNNECESSARY?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 10

UNNECESSARY?

CHARITY CLAIMS. RELIEF SOCIETIES. EFFECT OF STATE PLAN. SOCIAL WORKERS' VIEWS. I 'o--uvl:.-.ul the yars ~f depression ■ iai v,,,. ker- lab.., I !.,„.- hours : -iv.- '.\ a\ - and means t,, feed and ' ; . :, • '"" needy, man\ of whom were : di-'u-- through no f in ii t „,- ,!„.;,. 1"■ ' "I ivoh" for t'o,,d and elotl-.es :""». a regular feature of the city's '" ;v " ' - »»d although the position has •'■■ll pi '-'-'i i'-sively easier during the '-i- ,v • \ "ar.s there is .-till „ great deal 1 '"eiml -/won by the various charitable "■-Miii-alions of the city. With the '••oernmenfs announcement of its new "'"."''' "eltare plan the iscnsus of .<}>i iin->n among social workers is that 'here will not be the «ame need for their " -■'"'-■' : '"ii • in the future as there is at I he present t iiyie. The ( it x- Missioner. the -Rev Jasper 1 "''ler. ■"•'"I that he was inspired at the """I ' , '' l "' l '"ii''- r able in the future to

'"-""l" III" religious, sociological, and id\ ir-ory »i,le ol the mission's work'. "I "" Hirii'eil at things coming mv wav," > Mi'l. "A few years ago r made the ' ,i,lm tbal institutions such as the one I enntrol should be unnecessary as a "fans towards affording material relief In adtuiui-ter relief is „ot mv job in '■eality, but all through the depression ; eriod r had to abandon a great deal of ii" work in the police courts in order ; " have sufficient time to raise money "r hungry people. With the Ooverii:"".'f s proposals in operation T, in com■iinn with other social workers, will not iave the same anxiety over the bread Jnrl butter ■department.

Cost of Living. "This, of course, does not mean that we will not render any material help oeeause we will still conduct our children s camp and convalescent home. The idministrution of general relief, however, such as issuing meat and grocery orders, and orders for coal ami firewood, -hould he substantially reduced within a year or two." Mr. (alder reiterated his warning that 'he ro>t of living, especially the house rent side, should he zealously safeguarded by the Government, 'if this were not done the increases in pension payments would not be increases in reality. "I have discussed the welfare ;>lan with a number of men who are receiving up to £5 a week and who were previously on relief'." said Mr. Calder. "It is most heartening and encouraging wi find the brotherly spirit they are -bowing. They frankly state that they do not grudge the 1/ a week proposed ro 'help the other fellows.' They feel gratitude at being again In harness and; many of these men will never forgot the helping hand that was 'hem during the depression period when 'hrough no fault of their own they were •■brown out of work and had to rely on ■elief. Many of these men and their •amilies knew the pangs of hunger. The najority of them will never forget, and it has brought into their lives a new ■pirit of unselfishness." Like the Arabs. "I have heen wondering whether we diould pick up our tents like the Arabs ind silently fade away" was the striking comment of Sister Esther. "It is abundantly clear that there will not be nearly rlie game need to administer relief after the Government's sche«e has been in operation for a time," she said. "Of course, there will always be the odd ease* —those who cannot bear their own mrdens and who require the human, sympathetic touch."-

Sister Fsther said that there had been some comment about the tax of 1/ in the £ from all wages. Instances had been quoted wlipra the father and several children were all working, and the total r.ocial welfare tax would more than pay the rent. "Tin;* do not relish that pay out," commented Sister Ksthor. "They do not look at it from the angle that it carries free medical and hospital attention and other benefits. They arc merely viewing it from the standpoint of what it costs in cash each week.

''What appeals to me more than anything else is the Government's invalidity pension scheme and the reduction in the qualification period of residence to be eligible for the present old age pension," she continued. "Many of these people are already enjoying the pension, and their lives have been made much brighter. I have in mind the case of two dear old people who to-<7ay nave their pension certificates for the first time. They are sisters and have been in New Zealand for just over ten years. You can imagine how- they feel after liaving for some considerable time been helped by the Hospital Board, by my own organisation and other institutions. These old people and many others greatly appreciate what has been done for them.

Wait and See. "On the face of things it seems that we will not need to give any more relief after the Government's scheme has been {nit into operation," said Major Hart, Salvation Army Samaritan officer. "When the cost is reckoned one might even wi.-h that it was work that was hpinj.' provided. The proposed tax is viewed in different ways. There are ■some who think jt will be a burden, while others say they will pay cheer- j fully because they consider themselves lucky to -be in work, flow it will really I affect uur work I cannot say now. I am afraid we will have to wait until the legislation is passed and then sen how it works. I don't »upposu we will get ' down to tin tacks until the "dieine has been put on trial tor a year.'' '