POUND SCHEME.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 7

POUND SCHEME.

. —♦.___ PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED. RESUMPTION NECESSARY. DECISION OF RELIEF ASSOCIATION. At its meeting yesterday at'ler noon the committee of tho Citizens' Uemploymcnt- Relief Association decided to re-introduce the pound scheme immediately, by calling, as soon as possible, a public meeting, over which the Mayor is to be asked to preside. Mr George Harper presided. The chairman welcomed -Mr .J. K. Archer as a member of the committee, and said that, the committee was approaching its 50th consecutive mooting. Necessity for the Pound Scheme. Referring to tho past week, the chairman said that they were doing thoiv level best to supply the wants of the people, but the supply had been by no means .sufficient to go round, and they had to put them on short commons in consequence, it would soon bo a question whether they would not have to bring in tho pound scheme. That was his own opinion. Distress was incresvii.g, and he gathered from the people whom he went round addressing 1 that they would be quite willing to take up the scheme again. As far as his personal opinion was concerned it would be a good thing if they started it as soon as. possible. Major l>iy moved: "That the pound scheme be resumed immediately." Mrs A. I. Fraer eoconded. Major Dry said that money was goingout every week, and if the money was done by July, what were thev going to do? Mr J. \V. Woodbury said that, the ap-, proximate value of the gifts of food-* stuffs received during the week was £lO. ire had been approached by Biocarton people who wanted a depot established in Addington. The depot being urranged for Sydenham would be thv fifth in the City. Mr W. \V. Scarff: if we start the pound scheme we will have to start with a certain amount of diplomacy. Major Dry: I don't care what diplomacy is used, as long as we got there! Mr Scarff suggested that the Mayor should bo asked to call a public meeting to re-start the pound scheme. Mr Woodbury, replying to a question, said that the amount allowed the committco by the Mayor—£l3o a week—together -with an additional £lO received last week, represented a little over one shilling a family a week. Government's Relief Scheme. Mr F. W. J. Belton said that it would simplify matters if they knew What wore the exact intentions of the Government with regard to its relief proposals. There was some talk that the dispensing of relief was io be taken from Hospital Boards. Mr Archer said that the City Council had no information on tho subject. Personally, ho thought that the change to the Government schemo would make the committee's activities more necessary than before. lie did not want to prejudge matters, but he did not think that keeping the men at work continuously was going to help matters forward. The .Rev. I*. Itovoll: It will be three months before tho Government scheme is working"—the Hospital Boards havb been asked to carry on for that period. .July and August are the worst months for outdoor workers—week after week meli cannot work on account of- the rain. What can ■be done for Is 3d. a family a week? If we could only get it into the heads of the Christclmrc'h people that wo iire not getting enough now—even a I the best —something would be done. ' Bishop Brodie- suggested that they should write to Mr Coatcs and ask him what his programme is, and what benefit the committoo would receive from the unemployment moneys he had to deal with. The motion was agreed to, and it was decided also to give effect.to th.; suggestions made. ' Tlic chairman said that he would see tho Mayor about calling- the public meeting nt the earliest convenient dat?. Assistance Rendered. Mr J. "yV. Woodbury reported that during the week ended May 7th the total numbor of families assisted was 1801, or a total of 7444 persons. .- This was an increase of 311 families as compared with the previous week. The balance at the bank was £47 12s 10d; unpaid accounts totalled £284 9s. This did not include £23, railway freight on mutton from Longbum before meat was supplied from the South Island. The Department was ringing up periodically and asking when the amount would be paid. The committee was actually £269 in debt. He had been round to the three depots, and _ had asked the managers to communicate With him before sending applicants away unsatisfied. The Mayor had kindly allowed him an extra £lO, with which he had got supplies of flour, suear, oatmeal, and butter. Beplying to Mr Scarff, Mr Woodbury said that he was of Mr Scarff's opinion that it would be better*to supply bread rather than flour, but in some cases flour was asked for. Each depot was allowed to buy 100 large loaves instead of taking the full ration of flour.. The.chairman read a letter from the Mayor setting out that he had received the committee's letter respecting its liabilities, and he would give the matter his special attention. Sydenham Depot. Eeplying to Bishop Brodie, Mr Woodbury said that he had met some of the Sydenham ministers on Saturday morning, and had explained the working of the depots. They were arranging to start a depot between Beekenham and Sydenham. Mr Archer said that the ministers were organising tho matter, and representatives from all the churches were going into details. Needs of School Children. . The chairman referred to a scheme that had been submitted to him to provido a chain of soup kitchens in connexion with' the schools. He did not like the idea, he said, but something might be done by women going to the schools and cooking soup on the school fires. Mrs Fraer: That is being done at Phillipstown School by the teachers. Mr, Archer reminds me that cocoa is being given at Sydenham and other schools. Mrs Fraer added that- the teachers did not like outsiders coming in to help. It was decided to enquire what was. being' done at the different schools and to ascertain what assistance •is necessary. •