STATE GRANT REFUSED

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 10

STATE GRANT REFUSED

SPECIAL LEVY SUGGESTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Government lias refused an'application by the Auckland Hospital Board for a special grant for unemployment relief in Auckland. A letter received by the board this morning from the Prime Minister (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) stated, inter alia:— '' The matter has been carefully considered by the Government, but it has been decided that the existing statutory method of subsidising hospital boards' expenditure is not to be departed from. In considering the matter, the Government has not been unmindful of the calls on your board's funds on account of unemployment relief, but in view of the present state of the country's finances any further commitments of expenditure have to be rigidly curtailed. "In the meantime, the Government ia taking all steps possible to provide work for the unemployed by carrying out additional public works, afforestation, etc., and by these means it is hoped that the position will be materially relieved during the ensuing year. In addition, special proposals are now under consideration for submission to Parliament in connection with the. unemployment problem." "I am very disappointed at the result," said the chairman of the Hospital Boa>d, Mr. W. Wallace. "It means that the whole thing will be thrown back on the local bodies, which have too heavy a burden to bear. The Auckland Hospital Board realises its responsibilities, and is not going to allow people to want for food. The board has power to strike a supplementary levy, and it may be necessary to do so if unemployment continues to increase."