UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 25

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

RED CROSS COMMITTEE MUCH STILL TO BE DONE A meeting of the Red Cross Unemployment Relief Committee was held on Tuesday, the Rev. R. Inglis presiding. The chairman reported that a case which had appeared before the committee at the previous meeting had been enquired into and was found to be bona fide and of a deserving nature. The husband, now laid aside with T. 8., had served'during the war with the Imperial forces. He had been a prisoner of war and had suffered hnrsh treatment, from which his tubercular trouble had had its origin. The wife was now left with three young children to struggle along. By an Imperial statute limiting the time for which claims for pensions could be made, the man, owing to the lapse of the seven years limit, had forfeited his claim. Inquiry had been made of the Pensions Department, urging that special representations be made to the Imperial Pensions authorities for reconsideration of this case. The department had undertaken to do this. In addition, it was resolved that a special letter go forward from the committee to the Minister in charge of Pensions, England, directing attention to the special circumstances surrounding this case. The chairman had also seen a local church body, of whom the man and his wife were adherents, and that body had undertaken to assist the woman and her family in every way possible. The committee gave authority for the purchase of clothes for the mother. Help Still Wanted. Several letters were received acknowledging assistance given by the commit*. tee. The Council had been approached in reference to renewing the subsidy of £5O which had been granted during the winter months by way of assisting the committee in its work. In replying, regret was expressed by that body for inability to renew the subsidy, such grant being made under special circumstances. In accepting this letter the committee felt that though there may be less unemployment than thire was, nevertheless many families who experienced distress during the earlier part of the year had fallen behind in rent payments, etc., and even though now employed, will require to be assisted in the way of clothes, etc., for a little time. The case of a family of an ex-seaman of the Royal Navy, which had come before the committee at its last meeting, had resulted in a communication from the secretary of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Debt to British Seaman Fund asking for particulars. These would be furnished, and it was hoped that the fund would grant the necessary aid. Sad Cases. An anonymous donor sent in a contribution to the funds amounting to £5. It was resolved that appreciation of this generosity be expressed. Thirteen new cases presented themselves requiring various forms of assistance. Details of their circumstances were taken, and everything possible will be done in the way of placing them in light employment. It was stated that every one of the men were of a genuine type, but through operations and various forms of physical disability they were unable to take on the heavier forms of manual work offering. Most of them had tried, but had broken down under the strain. One man had met with a motor accident, and was partially paralysed. He was equal to clerical work’or cooking, and would be prepared to take on that work if it were offering. A man, 68 years of age, had served 28 years with. the volunteers in Wellington, having his long-service medal. For twenty years he had been with one employer, but owing to., age had been retrenched. He had been out of work for two years, and. his savings were exhausted. He was fit and strong- and a reliable - hand at gardening. A man and his wife, both of whom had served during the war, and were now having a struggle, appeared before the committee.. The man was disabled and equal to light work only, but his wife by way of helping him was prepared to take on domestic work. The case was deemed a very deserving one. Through the kindness of a number of people temporary employment had been made available, and men had been dispatched to fill these vacancies at short notice, and the service given was reported as being satisfactory. A gentleman who had kindly found a home for an old man in the country had communicated with the secretary expressing his satisfaction with the old man, who had. since called at the office and related, to the committee how happy and contented he was in his new appointment. It was mentioned that there still remains a great deal of distress, particularly among those who are unable to take on the heavier work. On its files the committee has a number of most deserving cases who can be dispatched at short notice for such light work as is offering, such as wood-chopping, gardening,' scrubbing, house-cleaning, window-clean-ing, etc. A communication to the Secretary, telephone 22—574, will receive prompt attention.