EVICTION CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 4

EVICTION CASE

PALMERSTON COMPLAINT,

(Special to the "Evening Post.") PALMERSTOjNP "ST., This Day. A notice of motion by Mr. J. Hodgens presented to the Palmcrstoii North Hospital Board yesterday following upon a newspaper report that a family had been evicted from their home, while the board's social welfare officer had taken no stejjs to prevent the occurrence,, led to considerable diseus•sioii as to the powers tho board had in such -circumstances. Mr. Hodgens was in favour of the services of tho officers concerned being dispensed with forthwith. ; Tho chairman (Mr. <T. K. .Hornblow) said he could not accept sui'h a nolier of motion, as tho offi<U'i\s co'ic" m* '] only carried -otit the policy of the board. "Wo are surry thu t:vu-i,>.., place," said tho chairman, "bin. we have pointed out to the family concerned that it is not the board's job to attend to- such cases. The board has laid down a policy, and if our officers have carried out that policy wo could not dispense with* their services." Mr. Hodgens accepted the chairman '.s ruling, but said lie could not' understand how the board could stand idly by and see a man and his wife and live children bundled out on to the street with their furniture. "This is 1933," added Mr. Hodgens. "One reads about the old days in Ireland and Scotland, and to think that the same state of affairs is coming;to tho fair city of Palmerston North is unbelievable." Tho secretary (Mr. A. J. Pliillipps) said the board had instructions not to help able-bodied unemployed, and this had been tko first case in which lie had been unable to effect a settlement. Tho position that.had arisen had been the result of tho man's own stubbornness. Mr. Hodgens moved that the board's officers be instructed to help in all cases of eviction between now and the next meeting of the board,'but tho motion was lost. :