RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20257, 17 May 1929, Page 13

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S TASK.;

TWO HUNDRED SEEK AID.

MANY CASES OF URGENT NEED.

An indication of tho extent of distress in the city was given to the Relief Committee of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday when assistance was given to over 200 men and women, some of -whom were in acute need. Mr. W. K. Howitt acted as chairman for the day, and the committee was engaged until lato in the day listening to narratives of hardship and poverty. It is a long tinto since tho committee lias been faced with such a task as was presented yesterday. The waiting rooms were thronged all day by almost record numbers, and it was necessary to mako nso of an extra room to accommodate the extraordinarily largo number of men who attended. Three rooms were fully occupied by tho men and a fourth was assigned to women.

A feature was tho number ol requests for urgent help. In several instances the commilteo investigated cases of extremo need and special and immediate grants of milk and children's food were made. In other cases whole families practically ■ depended on orders for food sought from tho committee. Tho l!ev. W. 0. Wood, tho newly elected representative ox the Manukau district on the board, was present throughout tho day, gaining an insight into the committee's activities. Air. Howitt stated last evening that it was patent from tho large numbers seeking assistance from the board that 110 improvement had occurred in tho labour market. During his eight years' experience 011 the committee he could not recall a day in which so many had appealed for aixl. UNEMPLOYED AT PAEROA, SUBSIDY OF £7OO GRANTED. Lev telegkam.—own correspondent.] PAEKOA, Thursday. The Mayor of Paeroa, Mr. W. Marshall, has received a telegram from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, stating that the sum of £7OO, as a pound for pound subsidy, has been authorised for the relief of unemployment in the district. The works to bo carried out by the Borough Council include the filling in ol several deep drains in tho lower areas of tho borough, the extension of tho treeplanting areas on the borough reserves, and the reforming arid surfacing of Station Road. Several "other minor works are also to be carried out. The council had hoped to receive a subsidy up to £IOOO, but the Works Committee' is confident that good work will be done with the £7OO offered.