SYSTEM OF RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1932, Page 12

SYSTEM OF RELIEF

Referring further. to the co-ordination fof relief for distress, "Sympathy" submits that the Mayor's statement, though interesting, missed the important point, and allowed the procedure of , the Mayor's committee to entirely overshadow the major question, which embraces the whole of the- organisations in the city. "No question was raised as to the Mayor's committee, as one would quite naturally suppose that his executive and its branches would work in close co-operation, but there is not the slightest doubt that not only is there very serious overlapping, but also a considerable waste of public- money in the administration of relief. . . . This was evinced by the largely representative body whieß waited upon the Mayor and offered their' services to stop this quite unnecessary waste. This offer was very, unfortunately not accepted, and the yeoman services of Dr. Campbell Begg and others went for naught. This matter is even more serious than at first thought, ;ag only the other day the manager-'of. "the Bank of New Zealand admitted receiving thirtynine applications from various societies in the city for a share of, the £1000 donated, and.this for the relief of- women and children only. Surely, the city is not in such a deplorable state to warrant so many charitable; organisation?" The correspondent fiirther contends that charges of overlapping are not based on individual cases, but inquiries by societies have revealed doublebanking. which it is almost impossible to stop, as there is little or no cfc-operation between the bodies. "I sincerely trust that the Mayor's Distress Committee is merely a temporary body and will automatically go out of existence when the times become normal, but I am advocating this close co-opera-I tion of the many permanent organisations [ that have been working for. years, and anticipate carrying on for many more. Co-ordination and close inter-confidence should very materially help to conserve | time, money, and material, and might perhaps help to kill' the professional cadger, which free and indiscriminate charity is breeding."