DENIAL OF POVERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 13

DENIAL OF POVERTY.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. ADVICES FROM RESIDENTS. GOVERNMENT RELIEF WORKS. [BI TELEGEAFH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A statement that he had received emphatic denials of destitution on the Northern gumfields was made in Parliament to-day by the member for Bay of Islands, Mr. Allen Bell, after being given leave to refer to the recent allegations in the press that underfed and underclad children were attending certain schools. Mr. Bell said it was common knowledge that the kauri gum market had been in a state of collapse for the past two cr three years. Realising that there was likely to be trouble during the present rainy season he had approached the Minister of Public Works some time ago and had secured an authorisation of £1250 for relief works in the district from Waipapakauri northward. This sum was expended in providing work for married men with families. It was exhausted last Monday. On the previous Saturday he approached the Minister again and secured a further authorisation of £IOOO.

Previous to the recent allegations the member for Oamaru, Mr. E. P. Lee, had informed him that information had come to one of his constituents from a Presbyterian minister that people were starving on the gumfields. He telegraphed for confirmation and received denials of the statement this week. On reading the allegations in the press he had telegraphed to a number of school teachers in the district referred to. Some who were on vacation had not answered, but- of two who replied one stated that the story was untrue and the other said the allegation was an unmitigated lie. Mr. W. Evans, of Houhora, of whom he had also inquired, replied that the relief works were going on satisfactorily. The Government, said Mr. Bell, had not been remiss in dealing with , the unemployment on the gumfields. At first it had been estimated that 30 to 35 families were in need of help, but the number turned out to be about 60. Thirty men had been employed in alternate fortnights and their average total earnings from the first authorisation had been £l2 or £ls. The second would bring the total to £25 or £3O.