RATION RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 265, 4 August 1932, Page 8

RATION RELIEF

Position at Christchurch COMMENT BY MINISTER Difficulties of Finance Statements made In connection with the administration of ration relief In the city of Christchurch were referred to last evening by the ActingMinister of Employment, Hon. Adam Hamilton. The Minister said he fully appreciated how difficult was the problem of administering unemployment relief, and he was anxious to assist in smoothing out any difficulties and to make the lot of the unemployed as easy as possible. When asked had he any comments to make upon the statements appearing In the Press concerning ration relief in Christchurch, Mr. Hamilton said that the mayor of Christchurch had Interviewed him in Wellington on Monday, and had then been informed that possibly Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputychairman of the Unemployment Board, would visit Christchurch in the near future, or that Mr. R. T. Bailey, the officer-In-charge, would be asked to come to Wellington. “However, no definite arrangement had been made when Mr Sullivan left Wellington, and I must admit that I was as surprised to read the Press report on this matter as I was to learn of the rumours circulated in Christchurch,” said the Minister. “I am unable to account for this, but I may say that I mentioned to no one but the mayor that consideration would be given to the possibility of arranging a visit by Mr. Jessep to Christchurch, or alternatively of arranging for Mr. Bailey to come up to Wellington. “Mr. Sullivan telephoned me yesterday and seemed to express some concern regarding the turn which the matter had taken in Christchurch. However, I have now arranged for Mr. Bailey to come to Wellington so that any difficulties capable of being overcome can be gone into In Wellington with that end In view. I can now more fully appreciate how difficult Is the problem of administering unemployment relief and am anxious to assist in smoothing out any difficulties, and of making the lot of the men unfortunate enough to be unemployed as easy as possible. “There Is just one other point to which I may refer,” said Mr. Hamilton. “and ..that is while I did not ask the mayor to take over ration relief, I am very glad to know, If he himself is correctly reported, that he proposes out of funds under his own control.to supplement the assistance which the Unemployment Board can give. The position from the financial point of view of the board is difficult, and we are grateful for any assistance which can possibly be given from outside sources, and no-one will be more pleased than I if the board Is able to continue to afford the present measure of relief.”