BUSINESS MEN'S COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 27 July 1933, Page 10

BUSINESS MEN'S COMMITTEE.

DETAILS OF ITS WORK. ADDRESS BY 31R V>. H. E. FLINT, i j Details ol the work done and the j distributions effected by the Business Men's Committee in the relief of distress in the city since it took over the administration of the work, were i outlined by the chairman (Mr W. H. j E. Flint) at a meeting of Anglican clergy presided over by Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt yesterday. The chairman said that the committee's work affected the parishes of all the clergymen present, and they were anxious to know a little more about the committee s policy. . Mr Flint said that in the first two weeks of its administration the committee had spent about £6OO a week and had established 12 district depots. However, the large sums expected had not been subscribed, and the expenditure had had to be reduced to about £3OO a week. The distribution of coal had been begun before the distribution of rations, and so far about £IOOO had been spent for this purpose. Five hundred tons of coal had been distributed in 6196 bags, and 1130 bags of lirewood had also been given out. The wood had cost only about £5, since most of it had been given to the committee and cut. up by the unemployed. Mr Flint said that the totals of supplies distributed by the committee so far were as follows: —Bread, 68,0001b; meat, 88,0001b; flour, 26,5001b; dripping, 15,0001b; potatoes, 87,0001b; vegetables, 71,7001b. The Finances. ; The sum of money In the fund at present was approximately £10,598 ; 13s 2d, Mr Flint said. This included £665 credited to the money fund which represented the value of gifts in kind. The receipts had amounted to £7991 | 15s, and the payments to £3365 10s, ; leaving approximately £4600 in hand, j The committee had other commitments I in hand, so that it would have to work | cautiously until it was able to see how the fund was going to continue.

The 26 boot repairers at the Kilmore street depot had repaired a total of 2700 pairs of boots and shoes, and 1250 pairs of children's boots and shoes had been distributed through the schools. Altogether 660 parcels of women's clothing and 806 parcels of men's clothing had been distributed, and 430 pairs of blankets had been sold at half price. Applications at Peak. Mr Flint expressed the opinion that the total number of families applying for relief had reached its peak at 3300, and he added that last week the total applying had been 30uo. There was at present an extreme shortage of clothing, he said, and for this therewas undoubtedly a very urgent need Mr Flint explained that the committee was composed of voluntary workers. It was also endeavouring to look after the sick and aged poor, and it had assisted in a number of cases of difficulty between landlord and tenant. in which members of the committee had acted as mediators. Overlapping Denied. In a question to Mr Flint it was suggested that some persons did mit subscribe because they had heard that there was overlapping going on in the distribution of relief. This was denied by the Hev. P. Revell, who eaid that if the public knew of the extreme care and the patient work which was done at the central relief depot they would understand that overlapping practically did not exist. Mr Revell explained that no one could receive rations from any of the depots without showing a ration card from the central depot. At each depot a record was kept of the cases served each week, and this register was sent Ihto the central depot. The records were carefully checked and collated by a card index system which showed at once if any overlapping occurred. "In the last six months," said Mr Revell, "there have been practically no cases of overlapping. Two alleged cases were found to be groundless some time ago, and since then there have been others wuich have also been found to be without foundation. Altogether I do not suppose in all the cases dealt with there has been more than one-half of 1 per cent, of overlapping."

RELIEF FUND. BUSINESS MEN'S APPEAL.' The contributions to the Citizens' Relief of Distress Fund received yesterday brought the total to date up to £11,655 2s 2d. The honorary treasurer, Mr J. W. Niven, city treasurer, on behalf of the Business Men's Relief Committee, acknowledges the following additional contributions:—

The difference between the amount —£94B—from the "Luck at Last" art union given in yesterday's issue, and the amount—£946 16s 3d—given in the above list is represented by exchange.

£ s. d. Previously acknowledged 10,586 3 0 I.H.E., second contribution 1 0 0 Arnaud McKellar 5 0 0 Canterbury Wrestling Association (Inc.), second contribution 5 5 0 Staff, Bank of Australasia, fourth contribution t 5 2 N.Z. Breweries, Ltd, .. 60 0 0 Stable staff, J. M. Heywood and Company, seventh contribution 0 11 0 Swift, N.Z. Co., Ltd. .. 35 0 0 "Luck at Last" Art Union 946 16 o Staff o£ T. Armstrong and Company, Ltd.. High street 0 11 9 Hay's, Ltd., and staff, tourth contribution 1 3 0 Mrs M. Poulton and staff, three weeks' contributions . 0 9 0 "A Grateful Heart" 3 10 0 H. G. Helmore 3 3 0 Mrs H. G. Helmore 5 5 0 £11,655 2 2