CITIZENS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20567, 8 June 1932, Page 8

CITIZENS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. COMMENCEMENT OF POUND SCHEME. Arrangements for various speakers to address a number of meetings last night and to-morrow night -were made at last evening's meeting of the committee of the Citizens' Eelief Association, with the object of recommencing the Pound Scheme in the City and suburbs for the relief of distress. Mr George Harper presided and others present were Mrs A. I. Fraer. Miss Bromley Cocks, Bishop Brodie, the Kevs. P. A. Tooley, P. Rule, P. W. Revell, Major E. A. Bow, Messrs J. K. Archer, P. W. Belton, W. W. Scarff, J. W. Woodbury, J. W. Crampton, V. French, and C. H. Virtue. New Premises. The chairman said that the Association had been successful in securing new premises for Mrs Fraer'a relief depot, at Manning's Brewery, rent free. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr A. S. Duncan for his assistance in the matter. The North Canterbury Sheepfarmers' Co-operative Freezing Export and Agency Co., Ltd., wrote that Mr Alfred Fisher, of Mandamus Downs, Culverden, had instructed them to supply the committee with 23 frozen ewes, as a donation towards the relief work. The gift was a part of Mr Fisher's stock, I which was lying in the works. It was decided to send a letter of thanks to Mr Fisher. Mr Woodbury, director of tho Central Felief Depot, reported that Mr C. H. Virtue had expressed himself as keenly interested in the work and was giving assistance in tho control of the depot. Families Assisted.

Last week a total of 1931 families had been' assisted—a decrease of 84. It must not bo assumed, he said, that distress was diminishing as the fact that Friday was a holiday had to bo taken into consideration. The Sydenham depot was working well, and it was expected that within a week it would be in full swing. Ho desired to acknowledge gifts from the following: Christchurch Gas Company, fivo tons of coke; Messrs McClatchie and Co., twenty bags of coal; and eight coTds of wood given through the Mayor, and handed to tho Central Depot so that it might relievo cases that cannot be immediately attended lo by the Coal and Blanket Fund. The debit balance was £224 3s Bd. An application was received from single men, who have established a home for single unemployed on a cooperative basis, for three carcases of mutton from the Mayor's quota of meat given to the Association. It was Btated that roost of the men applied for, and received, rations at the depots. If they secured rations, which included meat, they would not require tho carcases of mutton applied for.

It was decided that the chairman and Mr "Woodbury should interview tho men conducting the home, with power to act. It was decided, on the suggestion of Mr Scarff, -to apply to the Unemployment Board for a grant for material for mending boots and shoes. It was reported that the Wellington Committee had received a - grant of £l5O, and it was considered that Christchurch was also entitled to similar assistance. Tho secretary reported that 2700 pairs of boots had been mended locally in twenty weeks. £2OO FOR CHILDREN'S BOOTS. GIFT FROM ROTARY CLUB. The sura of £2OO is to be handed over by the Christchurch Rotary Club to the North Canterbury Hospital

Board for the purpose of supplying children with boots and shoes. This month £IOO will be given, £SO next month, and the remaining £SO in the following month. The secretary (Mr Denys Hoare) stated at the Club's luncheon yesterday that the public had responded so liberally to the latest annual Christmas hamper appeal that after meeting all requirements in this connexion (1100 hampers haying been sent out), there was a certain v sum of money left over. As the Hospital Board had to provide food for deserving cases ; it would be better to use the money as stated. In addition, a sum of money would be held in reserve for the next Christmas appeal. POUND SCHEME TO BE STARTED IN PAPANUI. A meeting for the purpose of restarting the Pound Scheme in the Papanui district was held in St. Paul's Schoolroom last evening, Mr W. J. Boyce presiding. Mr Geo. Harper, chairman of the Christchurch Pound Scheme Committee, o lined the scheme as it operated last year, and said there was even a greater need for gifts of food and clothing this year. He said it was not intended to interfere with any local charity, but stressed the great privations that, hundreds in and around Christchurch were suffering. If it was decided to restart the scheme, Mr Harper asked those.in

„i, UM n ot to confine their activities onty g to the Papanui district "Do not be afraid to go over the border/' he said. "Whatever is dona will be accounted for and faithfully admmistared " On'the motion of Mr A. E. Haynes, and seconded by Mr F. Drury it was decided to restart the Pound Scheme in the Papanui district. The following committee was set upi—Messrs W. J. Boyce, A. E. Haynes, F. L. Drury A. Good H. Green (secretary), and Mesdames Graham, Tillman, and Carr ■; together with the Kevs. W. H. Orbcll,A Hopper, and E. Bandy.. It -was decided to hold a further meeting on Monday. A sub-committee, comprising Messrs Haynes, Drury, and Green, was set up to map out the district into blocks. RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYED WOMEN. COMMITTEE'S REPOBT EXPECTED SOON. TRESS ASSOCIA.TIOK TBLWJBAM.) WELLINGTON, Juno 7. The committee set up by the Unemi ployment Board to investigate a report on relief measures among workless women will meet in Wellington to-mor-row, and it is expected that its report, embodying suggestions framed as a result of a Dominion-wide tour, will be completed by the end of this week or early next week. Mr H. D. Thomson, Under-Secretary of the Immigration Department is chairman of the committee and the members aro Mrs Marshall Macdonald (Dunedin), Miss B. E. Carnachan (Auckland), nnd Mrs C. K. Wilson (Pio Pio), a prominent member ot tne Women's Division of the Farmers' Union. For the past five weeks the women members of the committee have been touring New Zealand. The coramitteo was set up by the Board for tho purpose of conferring with local unemployment relief organisations in various parts of the country- It is understood that the proposal in the mind of the Board is not so much the replacement of existing organisations as their co-ordination. Tho principle upon which future activities will-probably bo ba Sett will »©• that 'relief c|n be gjven with less over|ji lapping than in the past. «

NEW BRIGHTON RELIEF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the New Brighton Relief Committee was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Mr A. ELawry presided. The secretary (Mr S. Torepe) reported the Ford truck had been pur-

chased and was giving satisfaction; also that 100 pairs of boots had been collected for distribution by the depot. The Mayor (Mr E. A. M. Leaver) stated that no assistance would be given by the Christchuroh Depot unless the official card issued by the New Brighton Depot was presented. Mr Leaver also said that the time now appeared opportune to start the Pound Scheme in the borough and that, provided a strong force of canvassers was available, distressed cases would be materially helped. It was decided to put the Pound Scheme into operation immediately and to ask for the co-operation of school committees.

A public meeting will be held in .the Richmond School, Pavitt street, tomorrow at 8 p.m., to make arrangements for the Pound Scheme for the winter months.