SOME STILL IN NEED

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 11

SOME STILL IN NEED

SUBURBAN RELIEF

MATTER TO BE DISCUSSED

The /icision to seek a modification of the system of relief distribution was made at a meeting of the Wellington City and Suburban Relief Committees' Association, at which were present representatives from Thorndon, Brooklyn, Newtown, Seatoun, Lyall Bay, Kilbirnie, Miramar, and Berhampore. Disapproval of the system by which the central funds for the relief of distress are distributed was expressed. It was thought that the local knowledge of the committees enabled them to discriminate between those actually in need and others, while there was the advantages of personal contact and sympathy. .

It was decided to forward the following resolution to the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop):—"We are confident that in the suburban areas of this city there is still a need for assistance amongst numberless families, therefore this meeting unanimously resolves to urge the Mayor, to sanction functioning of the various suburban committees, and to arrange that each local committee receive regular allocations from the central funds."

The Central Metropolitan Relief Committee, said Mr. Hislop, when the matter was mentioned to him today, had decided some time ago not to reopen the depots. Prior to coming to that decision, it had communicated with representatives of the different suburban districts, and on the report forwarded to him it would appear that some suburban districts agreed with the relief committee's proposals^ The principle on which the district committees are working ,is to report the applicant to the central committee, which then deals with the application.

The Mayor said that he had received a letter from the Rev. L. F. Owen, Thorndon, forwarding the resolution mentioned above, and' in view of the representations set out in the letter, he proposed to call a conference of the parties concerned to discuss the matter.

"In normal times," said Mr. Hislop, "it is the function of the Hospital Board to deal with cases of distress in the city. The Mayor's committee was formed to deal with the emergencies which arose during the last few years. As times improve the functions of the Mayor's committee should cease, and be taken up by the statutory body, ihe Hospital Board, set up for the purpose of dealing with these matters in normal times." ■