RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 119, 20 April 1932, Page 6

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

CONDITIONS AT AUCKLAND. HOSPITAL BOARD’S DECISION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 20. “As long as the responsibility for relief rests on the Hospital Board all persons in need will be relieved. This decision was. made by the Auckland Hospital Board after hearing tion from the Unemployed . Workers Association, which asked what its attitude would be to men who had refused work on account of the conditions imposed by the Government. . The deputation, which obviously deeply impressed tho "• board by its bearing and its representations, said that the association was composed of intelligent, respectable, law-abiding citizens, who took no responsibility for th fhe chairman, Mr W. Wallace, said that the Government had a-ked i the board to continue relief for/ three months, and the board’s duty was plain. The men must be fed, whatever the consequences. The men who had struck were protesting a 6 ainst . ditions forced on them by the Government, and anyone who had seen the conditions at the Akaaka swamp drainage camp would realise that conditions were merely creating Bofc h a i rman 0 f the Relief Committee: If the Government will not come to our aid wo cannot affinal to keep these unemployed going witn relief. ■, Mr Wallace: Keep on as you are.doing The Government forced us into this position. It must take the responS ''l)r said ;that it seemed pitiable that the citizens of Auckland could not get together and tackle the problem. If they got together in the right spirit it could be settled in 4« in the meeting, commenting on a letter from local bodies expressing alarm at the board’s expenditure, Mr Wallace said that as long as the responsibility for outdoor relief was thrown on the board all the local bodies should go down on their knees and thank Heaven for what the board s relief committee had done.' METHODIST AHNISTERS’ MANIFESTO. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 20. The Methodists Ministers’ Fraternal Las issued a manifesto, calling the attention of tlie Government to the lol(a) Immediately abolish the “stand down week.” , „ ' , ~ (b) That there shall be no further reduction in wages. . (c) Increasingly to provide productive work as far as possible. (d) To provide sustenance for all those physically incapable 6f work.