DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF.

Evening Star, Issue 21628, 25 January 1934, Page 14

DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l-feel sure that the action of the mayor, re the distribution of food relief orders, as reported in to-nights ‘ Star,’ will meet with the approval of all who contributed to the relief funds, and all who have been recipients during the past few months. His AVorship’s next move should be to reorganise the whole system of distribution, and dispense with the present voluntary workers, who could bo replaced by selected men from No. 5 scheme under a central committee of three. Such men are working efficiently in the Labour 'Bureau, where no voluntary workers are engaged, and the distribution of relief is almost as important to-day as the work carried out at the bureau. The statement advanced by the present Relief Comrt’iitteo is interesting, but would be more so if they would divulge who the sympathic investigating officer would be. I wonder if he is a relief worker or one for whom an appointment is being made ? That 40 to 50 per cent, reduction pn retail prices for coal, clothing, and boots takes a bit of swallowing, too. “ Made in England trousers at 8s 6tl could be bought in any shop at that price, and cheaper. AVhat about the 33 1-3 per cent, increase in the price of men’s socks last week. “ In sympathy with the recent wool prices,” we shall be told, although these socks would be made months ago. AVhy does this coterie of business people take such a keen interest in what the relief worker and his family should wear? AVhat the committee failed to state was where this clothing and footwear is bought, and who receives the large printing orders which are placed for order books, cards, etc. Notv they are try'ing to centralise the food orders; but fortunately the mayor is one who has a better knowledge of the conditions than all his committee put together, and he must bo admired for the stand he is taking. Seeing that this-sympathetic investigating officer would be investigating the homes of the applicants for this 10s a month, and the reports going before this committee; would it be too much to ask for a biographical sketch of each member of the committee, with a report on his home' conditions? AA T e shall then be able to judge the class of persons yvho, in the words of His AVorship, are making “brutal attempts to rob innocent -children and defenceless women of that small measure of assistance arranged for them through the generosity oL. the citizens.”—l am, etc., Fiat Lux. January 24. TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —I think the mayor is to be congratulated on the stand he took up at the Relief Committee meeting. As it is a public fund that is being administered the committee has no right to exclude the Press representative. If there is nothing to hide, why should the proceedings be kept in the dark ? It is simply outrageous that anyone should be appointed at a salary of £l5O per annum, especially as the highest relief scale to a worker is just over half that amount. The committee say: “AA’e have got along happily together" ’ AA’ell, that is more, than some of the recipients of their charity can say. J would like to ask the committee how much money has a family to spend on clothes after paying £1 rent and incidentals like lodge, light, fuel, levy, food, etc. ? Personally I would he naked as an egg if it were not for clothes given to mo by friends little bettor off than myself, for which I have cause to bo thankful to them. 1 would very much like to know what the committee mean by necessitous cases, as I have a letter from Air Bromley in which he states; “It is not to be assumed ifchat the money you receive is sufficient

for your requirements.” 1 was heartily pleased to see the Mornington committee protest against the motion, as this committee has been the only one to administer relief in a humane manner, and I have pleasure in publicly acknowledging it. For the other committees, from what I have heard from the unemployed 1 would think they have not their confidence, and the best service they could do would be to resign on bloc.—l am, etc., C. S. MacArthur. January 25.