POVERTY IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 13

POVERTY IN AUCKLAND.

MATTER BEFORE THE HOUSE. CITY LIVING CONDITIONS. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. [BY telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Friday. In the House of Representative to day Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) asked tho Prime Minister whether he had read a newspaper account of a family in Auckland which had been found living in a state of great poverty. Tho mother had appealed for blankets for her fivo children, who were sleeping with only sacks for covering. The father of this family was unemployed. Mr. Parry said that other cases had been brought to light. Mothers were starving themselves to provide their children with food and meagre covering. What steps, ho asked, was tho Government taking to prevent such dire suffering among tho children of the Dominion ? Tho Prime Minister thanked Mr. Parry for giving him notice of the question. "I have read the paragraph," he said. " I would point out that thore are local organisations for caring for people in such circumstances. That is tho first point. The paper says that widows of deceased soldiers are in hard circumstances, but soldiers' widows are entitled to a pension and so aro then* children. In addition they aro entitled to earn money. It is suggested that the woyen can earn only a Few shillings a week. \£!o far as my information goes, the wag# for women is more like 9s or 10s a day." Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): They don't get pensions unless the husband's ' death was due to war causes. Another Member: The trouble with this woman is that sho is not a widow. Mr. Coates: This report certainly discloses a verv distressing stato of affairs. Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino): The soldier may never have had a pension. Mr. Coates: That does not make any difference. The hon. member should know that. As I said, there are local organisations for dealing with these cases, i agree that there are many into which an investifation ought to bo made. Unfortunately, have not yet had time to have inquiries made into conditions of living in the bigger cities of the Dominion as regards housing and such matters. I mean I have some ideas of my own which I believe, if put into operation, would relievo tho trouble in a few years. The Government wishes to assist as far as it is allowed by law, I cannot say more. I sympathise with people in such straitened circumstances. Whatever can bo done will bo done, #

THE CLOSING OF" SHOPS. AMENDING LEGISLATION. MATTER MAY BE CONSIDERED. [B? TELEGRAPH.—MESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Replying to Mr. T. K. Sidey (Duncdin South), who asked in the House of Representatives to-day if tho Minister for Labour would introduce legislation to amend the award of the Arbitration Court in connection with the closing of shops, the Hon. G. J. Anderson said he did not propose legislation to interfere with any award of the Arbitration Court. The question was not a new one. He had had many interviews and petitions on the subject, and in view of the conflicting opinions, it was very difficult to known what was best to be done. Ho might consider the question of introducing legislation to amend the Act in the direction suggested by the Court to give relief to small shopkeepers, but he would not interfere with any existing award of <the Court.