RELIEF DISTRIBUTION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 10

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION

SOME DISTRICT PLANS LAG

ADVICE TO APPLICANTS

Early in the forenoon to-day it became necessary for the officials at the Hed Cross rooms in Dison street to place at the doorway a "No More Today" notice, and a little later to supplement that direction by asking a constable to direct applicants to go away. Naturally those waiting were not pleased, for most of them had brought along "chits" duly signed and authorising them to collect; the goods, mostly clothing, listed on those orders; but generally they were reasonable and recognised ■that if the staff could do no more it could do no more.

At the bulk clothing depot, in the basement of the Hope Gibbons building, also, a crowd of applicants collected and demanded that their needs should be met. When told that they could not be dealt with this moi'ning some went away disappointed), but others just stayed on. ;■ ' ,

It would appear from .the crowding this morning—and the same thing happened also last week—that applicants will not heed the direction given that they should apply to the branch depots in their own districts. On the other hand it Beems that the committees of certain districts have not realised the worß that is at their hands and consequently those who are seeking assist* ance are not being met as they should be met. The result is that they crowd, to the two main Ked Cross- depots and rush the staffs there off their feet.. WHEKE TO APPLY. .. In Saurday's "Post" the Mayor, Mr t T. C. A. Hislopj stated clearly- what applicants should do to assist them* selves and to give the central committee and v staffs, who have plenty to-da in all conscience,' a chance to administer the relief distribution scheme efficiently and smoothly. . "All applications by individuals for assistance must be made to : one or other of the appointed organisations, which are the Salvation Army, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Bed, Cross (particularly for clothing), and 16 inter-church organisations, comprising seventy churches of all denominations," said Mr. Hislop. "All that it is necessary for any; person requiring help or advice to do is to apply to one or other of these organi* sations or to any clergyman in the district in which the applicant lives. After application is made in this • way, the organisation or clergyman approached will make inquiries into the case, and will attend to the matter of forwarding a requisition to the Mayor's Committee at the Town Hall: "In cases of sickness, application for• help can be made to the St. John Nursing Guild. Arrangements have already been made, in conjunction-with, the Rotary Club and the Social Welfare Department of the Public Hospital, for the supply of fuel in cases of necessity. Here again application, should be made to the organisations mentioned above or to clergymen. THE SUBURBAN DEPOTS. If those requiring supplies were to follow out this simple instruction, and if those issuing chits were to make it clear that application should be made to particular district depots—a line might be added to the chit, making this a definite direction—there would be no need for . applicants to / make long, and" sometimes fruitless, ; trips to the city, and the average ( case v wpnld be put through in much less.time', and without the discomfort,' mental;' as1 well as physical in many cases, of .'•waiting outside a closed door. . ';

The suburban depots arranged for are these:—

"Lyall Bay—Scout Hall, Hesolutioa street.

Bay—Croquet Club -Boom. *Miramar—Capitol Theatre. ' *Seatoun—Presbyterian Church. —7, Todman street. - Kelburn—Eev. Hibbard; Wades town—The Vicarage. Karori—23s, Main road. Khandallah—Rev. Cowie. AVcllington Central—Eev. Ficldea Taylor.

*Thorndon—Methodist', Schoolroom. Clyde- quay—Eev. IVy, Dufferia street.

New-town —St. James's Manse, Adelaide road.

'Northland—St. Anne's Parish HalL Above depots are responsible foi; then1 own investigations and issue.

Unfortunately, as is stated above, not all of these depots are adequately established. Some districts have a very; small problem as compared with others, but the central area and certain of the districts on the eastern side of the city, have a great deal moro to do than has been done up till now. It has been estimated that about 90 per centiOf the unemployed reside east of Cuba street, and it is there that the greatest need of adequately planned and staffed depots , exists. Much to the disappointment of the central organisation, the City Mission has stated that on; account of the volume of other work in hand, it is unable to deal with clothing distribution. Of the depots listed above* those marked with an asterisk are already in full swing. The Salvation Army also is requisitioning upon tha Bed Cross bulk supplies, and is dealing with its own applicants. Until each district branch of the organisation is in a position to handle at any rate the eases within its area and fhos'o receiving chits are directed definitely" to ■' apply to their' district depots, the delays which follow inevitably from congestion at the city depots must'continue. ""..:. ■