IDLE ABLE-BODIED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 11

IDLE ABLE-BODIED

Charitable Aid Exclusion

TELEGRAM FROM MINISTER

Wanganui, May 20.

The first meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board since tlie recent elections was held this morning, Mr. W. Broderick presiding. The following telegram was read from the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health :—

“I am informed that your board has resolved to exclude able-bodied men and their dependants from charitable aid from May 1. I trust that immediate steps will be taken to ensure that relief is not refused any indigent persons in need, whether able-bodied or not. I shall appreciate your assurance that this is being done.” The (ward’s secretary, Mr. L. V. Kerby, stated that in a subsequent telephone conversation with the Minister it was conveyed that if th/ board’s previous resolution to deny sustenance to ablebodied' unemployed were given effect to the Government subsidy for charitable aid might be stopped. Mr. A. S. Coleniffn and the chairman said that the onus was on the Government to look after able-bodied men. If was staled that hospital boards have .'ll! they can do to look after sick people, and Wellington was the" only board out of the sixteen that? was not prepared to support the Wanganui board’s resolution. They considered that a firm stand should be taken, as they could not cut down expenditure and relieve the unemployed. A small committee was deputed to wait on the Board of Health on June 5 to discuss the question.