SQUANDERING OF MONEY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 March 1937, Page 5

SQUANDERING OF MONEY.

MAORIS AND RELIEF. PREVENTATIVE STEPS. (Special to “Chronicle.”) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I am particularly perturbed at the frequent representations received by me from reputable citizens individually, and from units of social and welfare organisations of recognised . standing, regarding the manner in which, in some eases, moneys provided from the Employment Promotion Fund for relief purposes are being misapplied, or, in plain words, squandered in. the purchase of intoxicating liquors,” . said the . Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in a statement issued t-oday. “Without wishing to infer anything derogatory to our Maori peoples, for whom I have the utmost respect, the position to which I make reference is unfortunately most noticeable in some districts, where the proportion of Maori population is fairly high,” continued the Minister. “I am satisfied that some definite action should be taken to -discourage the wasteful expenditure of moneys provided from a fund created and maintained with the fundamental object of relieving distress consequent upon inability to secure employment.

"It cannot be overlooked that the Employment Promotion Fund is maintained by direct taxation upon all sections of the community, and any sanethinking person must surely be. concerned when it is apparent that moneys from the fund .to which he or she as an individual citizen is contributing, are being wastefully expended. “In future, therefore, steps will be taken to (deny relief assistance to Maori and pakeha alike where there is reliable evidence that the recipient thereof is wastefully expending same instead of applying the moneys to the - purpose for which they are granted, namely the proper maintenance of himself and, or, his wife and dependants. “Where suspension of relief is decided upon, the applicants 'will, however, have the right to represent their case to the head office of the Department of Labour, when each case will be decided on its merits and appropriate action taken that will ensure that any relief granted will be spent in a proper manner.

“Although I have already indicated that the policy is to be applied without any differentiation ■whatever between pakeha and Maori, the particular circumstances of the Maori are being carefully considered with the object of guarding against misapplication of relief moneys by the introduction of a scheme which will permit of unemployment relief assistance being extended by' way of orders on suppliers for necessary household personal eommo ; dities.

“The practicability of introducing such a system of affording relief is being closely investigated, as it seems quite apparent that the present system cf cash payments by sustenance allowance is not, in some cases, fully meeting the intentions .and spirit of the srstenance provisions embodied in the Act."