DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF.

Evening Star, Issue 21634, 1 February 1934, Page 2

DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF.

TO THE EDITOR. ' ‘ . Sir, —Not content with successful obstruction of the mayor’s plans to provide additional work for the unemployed, - those, citizens -who--may justly be termed the “opposition party” have sought to override His Worship’s policy with regard to the distribution of relief funds. Mr Cox occupying-the position he does by the expressed wis.i of a handsome majority of citizens, it would be surely reasonable that _ committees working under his direction should be composed of his supporters rather than an opposing element, soma of whom have made no secret of then? attitude. A ‘‘show down!’- of ■ tha position in which he is placed .and an appeal to his supporters to end the farce is overdue. Elected because of his outspoken statements on . municipal business in general, and the relief (if distress in particular, Mr Cox must continue his efforts or lose the confidence of his supporters. His action in refusing the motions affecting the administration ,of relief funds will meet with general approval. Especially is it so in regard to the appointment of an investgator. The city is oversupplied with good folk who have taken on investigating and refusing assistance, as a hobby. The impostors wiil always get help in preference, to those who, by strict economy and good man. ageinent, keep their homes and children “ 0.K.” If the liquor trade would inaugurate a fund to help support the dependents of their best customers the relief funds would be. relieved considerably. , The whole haphazard style of relief should be replaced by a sane and humane system, each religious body caring for its own, “beloved” followers out of its abundance, providing the able-bodied with work and the feeble with food. To say that it is not the function of the Christian Church to cart «r its own is to deny the essence of Christ s tench* ing. Mr Cox, as the dual representative of Christianity and public opinion, has a unique opportunity of demonstrating, or at least appealing for a demonstration of Christian principles—namelv, a just distribution of Godgiven abundance in preference to sejffirst policy.—l am, etc.. G. A. Herhing. January 31.