OUTDOOR RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1935, Page 12

OUTDOOR RELIEF

CHRISTMAS BONUS

GRANT OF £20,000

GOVERNMENT. ACTION

The Government has decided to make a grant of £20,000 from the Consolidated Fund as a Christmas bonus to recipients of outdoor reliefi from hospital boards. This grant was announced by the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) after a Cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon. Following on the announcement the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) today made available details of the proposed scheme of distribution. Mr. Fraser stated that with the approaching Christmas, and in view of the exceptional conditions from which it was hoped the Dominion is now passing, the Government, believed it was the general wish that something extra should be done to brighten the lot of those whose circumstances had compelled them to depend on more or less regular relief from public funds. "It is recognised," he said, "that hospital boards, the local government authorities charged with the administration of relief, have limited financial resources for the purpose, and the Government is desirous of enabling them to augment in some measure the relief granted in certain cases. THE PARTICIPANTS. "Those who will definitely participate, are those who, in respect of the week ending December 14 have received relief of a regular character in kind (rations, fuel, rent) or in cash, such relief being occasioned by old age, sickness, physical infirmity, or other bodily or mental disabilities, widowhood or desertion or imprisonment of the breadwinner. "It is not intended that those who have ceased to receive outdoor relief shall participate, nor is it intended that those who have received relief of a purely temporary or casual and minor character, will receive the bonus. " Of course, any who receive the benefit of the special Christmas grant from the Unemployment Fund, being already provided for, will not participate. "The decision to give a Christmas cash bonus has had to be made at short notice, and without a full opportunity, if the gift is to be timely, of investigating all possible aspects. Hospital boards, however, through whom the distribution has necessarily to be made, are being' asked to 'deal with any case which may appear to be anomalous. There will no doubt be a few which do not conform to the definitions given above as regards form of relief and circumstances necessitating relief, but, nevertheless, come within the category of those it is desired shall benefit. : "It is particularly stressed that the' Christmas bonus is to be paid in cash, that it is to be a, distinct extra to relief already being granted, and is not to be taken into account in determining future grants of relief. GRADUATED RELIEF. "After considering various alternatives, it has been decided that the Christmas cash bonus is to be graduated in amount in each case according to the number of persons in the family actually affected so far as relief is concerned. For one or two adults, the rate is to be £1 each, and for each, additional member of the family affected by relief ss. "More specific directions are being conveyed to hospital boards during the next day or two. It is realised that the proper and prompt distribution of the bonus will place heavy demands upon the time of board staffs, but it is believed that the earnest co-operation both , of boards themselves and their staffs may be safely anticipated. Circumstances will also undoubtedly call for some understanding and co-opera-tion on the part of those whom it is desired to benefit. "Earnest and favourable consideration was given by the Government to the provision of a Christmas bonus for necessitous old age pensioners, but it was found that, unfortunately, there were at present legal obstacles in the way which prevented that from being done."