CHARITABLE AID.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 118, 20 April 1931, Page 4

CHARITABLE AID.

PAYMENTS TO UNEMPLOYED. HOSPITAL BOARD’S ESTIMATES.

“The past year has been the hardest we have experienced in connection with charitable aid expenditure,” stated tho managing-secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital Board (Mr A. J. Pliillipps) in presenting the annual estimates to the board. The board adopted the estimate of £SOOO for this item this year. Last year tire estimate was £4300 and £5358 ■is 9d was spent. “The work of the social welfare officer has increased very considerably,” Mr Pliillipps continued. “At tho present time, in addition to Mr Watson’s services, this work is sufficient to require practically the lull time services of the junior typist in the office. Tho present indications are that charitable aid will possibly be heavier this winter than last winter. However, in view of the financial position in which the board is plaoed, .1 have placed this estimate at £SOOO, and, if conditions become exceptional, the position will be such that further moneys may have to be raised for this purpose. If so, in my opinion it would bo better to incur a small overdraft in connection with charitable aid expenditure rather than to attempt to provide more on the estimate this year. The unemployment position is, of course, most acute at tlie present time, especially during the two weeks while the Unemployment Board is not functioning. If the Unemployment Board is going to have sufficient funds to carry on, there should be little increase on last year’s expenditure, as it will be remembered that for some months after the Unemployment " Act was passed we carried the whole burden until the various schemes were enunciated, especially until the No. 5 scheme was put into operation.” Mr Pliillipps submitted the following comparative table showing the causes of distress for the years 1930-31 and 1929-30: — No. No. Cause. of cases, of cases. Unemployment— l l93o-31. 1929-80. Families 254 Casuals 381

“It will he noticed that we are able to classify ns directly due to unemployment, apart from the casuals, 254 cases assisted during the past year,” said Mr Pliillipps. “Out of a total (apart from the casuals) of 426, more than half are unemployed cases. The cost of charitable aid rations issued in Palmerston North for 1930-31 hns been as follows, the figures for 1929-30 being shown in parentheses:—Milk, £ll6 14s lid (£95 17s sd) : groceries, £622 13s 2d (£454 Is 8d) ; meat, £199 17s 6d (£143 2s) ; total, £939 5s 7d (£693 Is Id). “The present ration scale has now been in operation for over twelve months, and hns resulted in greater economy in the dispensing of charitable aid. The amount paid for rent and board during the vear 1930-31 has been £1920 19s 8d as against £1607 14s 3d in tho preceding year. The social welfare committee has recommended that all landlords be given notice that where the board has accepted liability for rents that the board will reduce its present payment of rent by a percentage which will effect a saving of over £IOO. We have continued to follow out a policy of granting no relief to able-bodied men unless work is done to cover the cost of this relief.'?

Desortion 635 21 455 14 Imprisonment 4 7 Sickness — Temporary 63 38 Permanent 12 24 Insane ... 4 3 29 Death of breadwinner 20 Wages insufficient ... 4 16 Old age 44 24 Totals 807 610