RELIEF GRANTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 195, 15 May 1941, Page 5

RELIEF GRANTS

Government Objection To

Reserve Fund AUCKLAND OMITTED Disapproving of the plau of the Auckland Metropolitan Unemployment Relief Committee to build up a reserve fund for possible future contingencies, the Government has discontinued grants to the committee from the profits of the periodical art unions. For the year elided February 28, 19-11. the committee received allocations from art union profits totalling £5784.

The chairman, Sir Ernest Davie, said Hie committee had started the year with a surplus of £10,765, and had received various amounts in addition to the Government allocations. Grants for relief had totalled £8405. the year closing with a balance of £Bl6B. There had been a comparatively light call for relief of social distress. There had been a considerable improvement in social conditions in the city, hut certain districts appeared to require assistance.

For some months past no contributions bad been received from art union sources, and it was uncertain whetner the generous grants formerly received would be continued. It. was obvious that further grants would be received only when the present fund was mote or less exhausted. The chairman said it had been his policy so to arrange ilie finances, without in any way restricting the distribution of relief where needed, to establish a reserve fund of £1.0,000 for the purpose of dealing with any untoward emergency. This was accomplished, but unfortunately the authorities disagreed with this policy, and not only reduced grants, but ceased to make contributions to the fund. It would appear to be incumbent on the committee to endeavour to ameliorate to the greatest possible extent any distress existing, and at the same time prudently to administer Hie funds in hand and conserve its resources to the fullest extent.

The chairman's report was adopted.