NEW BRIGHTON RELIEF WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 6

NEW BRIGHTON RELIEF WORKERS

CLOTHING FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN The Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. A. M. Leaver) received the following letter on Saturday from the Minister for Employment (the Hon. S. G. Smith): "The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) has placed before me your telegraphic representations regarding the necessity of some provision being made for the supply of clothing and boots to women and children. I have been pleased to place your representations in this matter before the board for its consideration. The board, however, points out that so far 110 provision lias been made from the Unemployment Fund for the supply of clothing or boots to women and children, and the extension of such assistance to the New Brighton borough would induce applications for similar treatment from practically every centre throughout the Dominion, involving an additional expenditure which unfortunately could not be met from the funds available to the board without some corresponding reduction in the present scale of relief assistance. Having regard to this aspect of the question, the board regrets that it is unable favourably to entertain your representations, and dssires to mention that the amended scale of relief under scheme No. 5 introduced some two months ago and providing for an increased measure of relief, especially to those relief workers of the higher conjugal classification, should reduce the necessity for supplementary relief assistance to a certain extent." The New Brighton Borough Council has been notified that it may now employ seven gangers, who will receive 2s 6d a day a man additional to the usual relief pay, and one of the gangers will be a whole-time man. The Unemployment Board has agreed to pay Is fid out of each 2s 6'd and the council will pay the balance. This concession was first asked for by the Mayor when interviewing Ihe board in Wellington last. April, and has been asked for on various occasions since.

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR TAKAHIS WORKERS

A concert was held at the Civic Theatre last evening to augment the funds to provide materials for the men engaged on the work at the Takahe. A programme of interesting items was given by leading Christchurch artists, including Miss Harrison 'soprano*, Mrs Murphy, and Messrs W. J. Smith, E. Dole, C. Sumner, and L. Riekard (organist). Items were also given by the Campbell brothers, the Hawaiian Four, and Skinner's and Jackson's harmonic bands. Mr Norman B. Smith, chairman of the Summit Road Trust, thanked the performers and the public for their support. INVALID CHAIR NEEDED An appeal was recently made through "The Press" by Mr A. B. Macintosh, director of the Christchurch Metropolitan Relief Association, for an invalid chair for a very distressing case. A donation of 5s has been received from "Sympathiser.''