SOCIAL WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 10

SOCIAL WELFARE

CHANGE IN SYSTEM

INTER-CHURCH COMMITTEES' REPORT

In view of the recent decision of the Wellington Inter-church Committees to disband the following brief statement has been forwarded to "The Post":—

The Central Inter-Church Committee was forced early in 1931 by two representatives, appointed by each of the following churches:—Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational, Church of Christ, and Salvation Army. It came into existence as an emergency measure to deal with the alleviation of distress before any form of Government unemployment relief was in the field to cope with the prevailing need.

In May, 1931, the committee set up sixteen district inter-church committees representative of all the local churches to survey the need in their district and make plans to meet it. Within a month of their formation these district committees were adopted by the Mayor's Relief Fund Committee as the main organisation for the distribution of its relief throughout the" city. While they have also raised and distributed locally much money and material to those in need, they have continued to act as agents. In this they have had the support of many other organisations such as ratepayers' associations, sports bodies, and welfare societies generally.

Each district committee developed and guided its own activities. Most of them had depots for food and clothing, many ran soup kitchens, organised sewing circles, made regular canvass of their district for gifts, arranged for regular visitation of those in distress, and some opened recreation and reading rooms.

Following on from representations made by the central committee, under the direction of Mr. H. Haywood Mirams, a definite system of registration and record of relief given was initiated and arrangements were also made by the authorities for working boots and clothing. In conjunction with other organisations various clothes drives were held and their proceeds distributed. Constant efforts were made to secure any possible employment for those who were the victims of the depression.

At no time were the resources of the committees adequate to the demands made upon them. Indeed, the help rendered was often meagre in the extreme, and did but little to take off the sharp edge of acute suffering. Often all that could be done was to give practical advice and to encourage those in distress to carry on. Save for the services of several unemployed, whose work was arranged by the Mayor's Relief Fund Committee, all the work carried through by the inter-church committees was of a purely honorary character; in many cases ,the members of the committees being themselves the most generous contributors to the maintenance of the work.

The committee came into existence to meet an emergency situation, and now that the sharpness of the emergency has to some extent passed, there is a widespread feeling that the work should be dealt with on a more scientific and fundamental basis than obtained in the temporary alleviation of distress. On laying down its task the committee expresses its appreciation of the services of the great company of volunteer helpers who have .assisted in connection with the different committees and depots.

Especially would we make public acknowledgment of the faithful and kindly work of Mr. H. Haywood Mirams, deputy chairman of the Mayor's Relief Fund. At all times the various committees have found him not only approachable but uniformly considerate.

The committee further thanks all those in the community who by gifts too numerous to mention, have facilitated the work of the committees, and expresses its indebtedness to many churches for the work of their ministers and the free use of their buildings and equipment. And, finally, the committee would record its appreciation of the patience and fortitude with which so many unemployed have faced the situation, considering the nature and the measure of relief afforded. W. R. MILNE t. H. WILKINSON Wm. BULLOCK W. A. PATTERSON O. J. HOWARTH Central Inter-church Committee Executive. It is understood that the new organisation under the name of the Mayor's Metropolitan Relief Committee is arranging to distribute relief in the suburbs by means of. local committees.