AIDING THE POOR

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 144, 15 December 1922, Page 5

AIDING THE POOR

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

CEASES ON 20TH DECEMBER

COUNCIL THANKS ALL HELPERS.

Distribution of foodstuffs from the Town Hall is to cease as from 20th December. Intimation to this effect was conveyed to the City Council last night by Councillor L. M'Kenzie, chairman of the Relief Committee, in.the following letter: — "At a meeting of the Relief Committee, held on Monday evening last, it was decided that distribution would cease from the 20th mat. A resolution was passed that, all moneys in hand, after payments had been made for the goods_ distributed to this date, shall be held in trust in case of emergency during ..the coming winter. The committee consider that they have carried out all the intentions placed upon them by the Main Committee, and they tvish to report that as a whole they have been very grateful for the many' kindnesses bestowed upon them. The committee especially wish to thank Captain Nicholson and the Ladies' Committee fpr the work of supervising the distribution; also the Commercial Travellers' Association^ who have acted so unselfishly in assisting in their work, together with the donors of food and other goods which were forwarded to the. Ladies' Committee for distribution. My committee feel that they' have assisted in carrying the poor of Wellington over a very trying period, and consider that now the summer is coming on, and large works of the country are being reopened, it is a wise proposal to discontinue the distribution. In future ajll applications for rtlief are to be referred to the Charitable Aid Board. A notice to this effect has . been placed in the basement of the Town Hall." After Councillor M'Kenzie's letter had been read, a general discussion ensued on the unemployment situation generally. NEVER SEEN'ANYTHING LIKE IT. The Mayor, in moving a vote of thanks to all those who assisted by money, donations, and in other matters, said he had been in New Zealand all his life, and he had never seen anything approaching what they had last winter, and he hoped they would never have it again. From the public they had collected £4222 13s 3d. He outlined those who had given a large amount of personal time to relief work. Councillor M'Kenzie said only a" few cases now remained, and it was unnecessary to proceed with the present arrangements, '. as the cases could be dealt with in other quarters. Councillor C. PI. Chapman said the council should consider the matter of a 1 better economic arrangement for giving relief. The raising of loan moneys meant a heavy payment by ratepayers when a small additional rate would give the council a sufficient fund to see it over difficulties, and would leave no debt to be wiped off later. The Mayor said £5000 remained of the loan. The labour market had improved, and applications were now practically normal.

Councillor J. Burns said a larg« amount of relief had to be given on account of high rents. The present system of collecting money for the unemployed meant that the same people paid over and over again, and he thought the solution , was provided by Councillor Chapman, and Would ensure an equal payment by 'all. The matter would besure to arise in Wellington again, and when the estimates were- considered for next year, the question of an extra rate should be considered. STILL VERY SERIOUS. Councillor P. Fraser, M.P., considered that the unemployment situation was still serious, snd very bad cases were still coming under his notice. , Councillor H. D. Bennett: "Has the seamen's vtrouble been • responsible for increasing the number applying for relief ?"\ ■■;-.• Councillor Fraser replied in the nega T tive, and stated that the seamen's organisation was looking after its members itself. Councillor M'Kenzie *»id there had been no increase in the number of applications sincel the seamen's trouble commenced. After several councillors had eulogised the efforts of the helpers, the motion \ of thanks was carried.