APPEAL FOR RATIONS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 10

APPEAL FOR RATIONS

200 Petone Relief Workers Seek Assistance SUPPLIES OF GROCERIES Asserting that they did not have "enough food to see them over the weekend, some 200 relief workers assembled in the Petone Council yards late on Saturday morning. The Mayor of Petone, Mr. D. McKenzie, discussed matters with the men, and in response to his request Mr. F. Castle, chairman of the Hospital Board, came to Petone and granted assistance to necessitous cases. Mr. Castle explained to the men that the Government had officially taken over the relief of able-bodied workers and relieved the Hospital Board of responsibility. In response to Mr. Castle’s inquiry as to whether application had been made through the Post Office for addtibnal assistance where required, the men replied that the assistance given, in addition to wages, was inadequate. Seventy Provided for. After consultation it was decided to issue one grocery ration to those in dire distress. Some 70 cases were dealt with in this. way. The rest of the men said that they could manage until Monday morning, when they would be dealt with by the officials. The cases granted temporary relief were considered in the presence of Mr. Kinsman and Mr. Wakelin, of the Labour Department. Mr. Walter Nash, M.P., was also present. “The Government machinery for relief does not operate simultaneously in the Lower Hutt district,”-, said - Mr. Castle to “The Dominion,”- “and this appears to have produced some_ dissatisfaction and a suggestion of unequal treatment. In Petone there appears to be little or no voluntary assistance being given, and no doubt some individual cases are rendered more difficult on this account. Workers’ Difficulties. ■I . “Some of the difficulties cited by the workers are that the Government scale is inadequate, that the winter conditions make the stress more difficult, that the need for food, clothing, and fuel is greater, and that the length of time some of the men have been working on small wages renders the position more acute. “There was evidence that many were entitled to family .allowances,” continued Mr. Castle, “for which they had either not applied or their applications had not been put through at the time. In my opinion the position at Petone Indicates that greater consideration should be given to special cases where sickness and other conditions may aggravate the difficulties. “I feel sure that the Unemployment jßoard will go more thoroughly into the position which has been disclosed at Petone. The men were splendid and displayed great patience in waiting in the wet and cold for a decision.” . Mr. McKenzie said he thought the whole system of rations was wrong. “It would be far better to give the men an extra day’s work and let them buy food and preserve their independence,” he observed. COMPLAINTS VOICED Instances of Hardship •RELIEF WORKERS’ PROTEST

Complaints regarding the amount of rations supplied to relief workers under the rations scheme of the Unemployment Board were voiced by Mr. S. Vella, secretary of the Relief Workers’ Section of the Labour Movement, on Saturday. “Since the rations scheme under the administration of th.e Unemployment Board came into operation relief workers generally have sought to obtain whatever might be forthcoming,” said Mr. S. Vella. “The amount of rations supplied under the new scheme is negligible. Some families have received as little as four' pints of milk a week, but the vast majority of workers have received nothing at all. The office of this organisation has been open during the evenings obtaining -full information in connection with the issue of rations and the circumstances of each applicant.” , , Mr. Vella said that in one case a “two and a half-day” man with a wife to support was earning £l/5/- a week. His rent was 15/-, and firing, gas, and lighting amounted to 5/-. leaving 5/- for food, clothing, etc. No rations had been granted. In another case, a “three-day” man with a wife and child was earning 30/- a,week and had to pay £1 for rent. He also had received no rations. Mr. Vella also mentioned the ease of another man with a wife and six children," all under nine years of age. His income was £2/8/6 (£2 wages and. 8/6 family allowance), and the rent was £l/5/-, leaving a balance of £l/3/6 to feed and clothe eight persons. The rations allowed were seven pints of milk a week. “There is little variation in the degree of hardship.” Mr. Vella added. “Some may have a shilling or two more, over and above the rent, than others, but whether the amount available for food and clothes is three or four shillings, it is obviously hopelessly inadequate in either case. It is ouy experience that in probably 90 per cent: of cases men, women, and children are going hungry,trying to keep the rent up-to-date. The time must come when the effort to reduce food consumption sufficiently to maintain the rent fails. We consider it should be possible to come to some understanding with the Minister regarding the rent question, and we intend during the coming week to confer with landlords and retailers, and also to approach the Minister.” Mr. Vella said that the organisation had done much to assist individual cases during the past week in respect of housing. ■