RELIEF ANOMALIES

Evening Star, Issue 21505, 1 September 1933, Page 6

RELIEF ANOMALIES

STRICTER INVESTIGATIONS NEEDED ISSUE OF ORDERS CRITICISED Tho need for stricter control in tho issue of grocery orders by the mayor’s relief organisation is being urged by a number of small shopkeepers, who have first-hand knowledge of anomalies. Under the new scheme adopted as from to-day, there promises, however, to be less cause for complaint, each case now being personally investigated in the applicant’s home. One storekeeper was indignant to find recently that the largest order present'd to him for tho week was in favour of a man who, a few days before, had been fined 10s for being on licensed premises after hours. In the cases of really deserving and frugal families, the orders were lower.

This state of affairs, the storekeeper contends, should not be allowed to exist. If a man could afford to frequent hotels after hours he should have no need of charitable assistance. Many workers who found the Is in the £ taxation a heavy charge on their income could have a feeling of only annoyance when they had definite evidence that unemployed spent Saturday afternoons in the hotels. No one denied the unemployed the right to some pleasures, but they were not entitled to waste money on liquor when they claimed, at the same time, that they could not afford to meet their livin,, expenses. Tho manager of a big grocery store in the city said that many orders were supplied by his firm. All the holders of tho orders were old customers, and, without exception, he could say definitely that they were fully deserving of assistance. In some cases it was a pity that tho amount of the orders was not increased. The suggestion is made by several storekeepers that tho circumstances of all applicants for grocery orders should be fully investigated. The present method is for the applicants to present themselves for investigation before the issuing committee, but those in charge of the issues should be acquainted with the general homo conditions and conduct of the applicants. They feel that the Police Department should be asked to approve or disapprove of the applications. The knowledge of the police officers in every district of the conditions of the applicants is very complete, and, if their services could be requisitioned, the goodwill of the public would not be imposed upon by undeserving cases. However, none denied the right of the workers’ families to be protected from hunger. When the men are penalised for misdemeanours tho families unfortunately are the worst sufferers. “ It was inevitable that some people would get away with imposition under the old scheme, but a new scheme is now operating as from to-day,” stated tho mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox). “ From now on each case will be investigated by a minister of religion, a doctor, or a recognised social worker. We are hopeful that the new system will eliminate the abuses. Under tho new scheme larger subsidies are made on goods purchased. Tho fact that the unemployed can get a bag of coal delivered at the door for Is shows that some practical help is being given to every family.”