CASES OF DISTRESS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 150, 29 June 1928, Page 14

CASES OF DISTRESS

FUEL FOR THE WINTER ARRANGEMENTS MADE Mr. G. Petherick, chairman of the Social Service Committee of the Wellington Hospital Board, stated at a meeting of the board yesterday that the cases of . distress assisted during the month of May numbered 373 ; as compared with 316 in April. The cash grants amounted .to £502, mostly consisting of rents paid. The board's social welfare officer recently visited Christchurch and Dunedin and inquired into.the systoms adopted by the boards in tliose cities. After fully considering the question, the committee had ! come to tho following decisions concerning the granting of relief:— .Single Men.—The limit'of rolief per day to single men be two meals and one bed, viz., tea, bed, breakfast. Single men from other districts: Belief to be limited to two meals and one bod. When transport to another district has been granted, no further application from the I recipient be entertained. Work proscribed for single men to be done day by day or no assistance. Clothing and boots, ote.; for single' men. to be left to the discretion of the officers, .'■'■ Kent.—Not more than two-thirds of tho amount of rent'to paid,.with maximum of 25s.pef;;week> :: and that special eases be considered on their merits. Basis and Amounts of Belief. —The present basis of 9s per head of the family to be continued. Milk to bo' granted only in cases of sickness or old age, or where there are young children. Clothing to be granted only on committee authority. Each case to be dealt with on: its own merits. . . ' \ . | Work, —In cases where possible,; work ■bo prescribed;--i6r'.recipi i entß,-*ipf relief. Where jw.ork is-not done further to be' suspended'until it; is performed. The basis to be Is 6d per hour. . Unemployable Single ■ Men.—Unemployable single men. coming from: other districts to be returned-at the board's expense to the district from. > whence they have come. ■ Mr. Petheriek said . he was recently asked if something could not, bo; done in the,,way,of- providing fuel for* distresspi'peopie during; the winter months. Several conferences', had been held with members of the Botary Club, and it had been arranged to collect paekingcases from Warehouses, etc., and collect light wood in a central depot. As to heavy wood, the owner of a block of, country with timber upon it had consented to give wood free; and a party of Boy Scouts' and others, had agreed to collect wopdj, -.which would be conveyed to a depot in town and cut up into .suitablo sizes. Offers of about, ton tons of coal had. been received. The fuel would bo distributed to deserving cases by means, of orders issued by the social welfare officer of the board. ': Tho Bey. J. A. Lochorc hoped that the .excellent scheme outlined' by '.Mr. Petlicrick would, bo extended to the suburban districts so far as its benefits were concerned. . Tho suggestions of ' the , committee wore approved, by the board. .'..■•