DEMAND FOR RELIEF

Hawera Star, Volume L, 15 January 1931, Page 5

DEMAND FOR RELIEF

■CHARITABLE AID AT GISBORNE.

RAILWAY STOPPAGE INFLUENCE,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Jan. 14. The increasing demands made upon the Cook Hospital and Charitable Ain - Board for assistance for, those .unable, to obtain employment formed the sub 1 ject of a lengthy discussion at-a committee meeting of the board this afternoon, the opinion being expressed that such relief came within the scope of Hie Unemployment Act and the provisionfor those destitute through the lack of work should bo made from the Unemployment Board’s funds. It was decided that the chairman should forward the following letter to the Hon. S. G. Smith, chairman of the Unemployment Board:— .... “This board is at present greatly concerned at the demand being made for charitable relief assistance by the unemployed. At present 46 separate claims, all attributable, to unemployment, are being given assistance by the board. Demands upon the public have already been made to assist the railway workers at Kopua in view of the storekeepers and milk and meat vendors dis- - continuing to supply stores on credit.“It is anticipated that heavy demands will be made in the course of a few days, and this board is of the opinion that as the 46 cases now receiving relief arc all eligible to receive assist-, ance from your board in the terms of, | the Act, especially the needs of tnis district should receive earnest consideration. The position in regard to- the - - - Kopua railway unemployed is that a j very large proportion of the unemployed there are not a fair charge upon this district, a majority of the workers hav-' ing been brought from-other districts. “I am directed to request that should this board dispenso relief to these cases such assistance will be accepted as. a charge upon the funds of your > ••-- board. As the local unemployment committee is unable to deal with the matter I would appreciate an early reply advising what assistance you-are prepared to grant.”