RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20309, 17 July 1929, Page 14

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S BURDEN

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT.

AUCKLAND'S HEAVY LIABILITY

Criticism of the Government's failure to cope with unemployment was mado at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday by tho chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, in replying to a telegram from the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, questioning the wisdom of a reduction in tho board's levy upon local bodies, in view of the serious situation in the North. Mr. Wallace said the board was bearing nearly half of the Dominion s total expenditure on charitable aid. Sir Joseph Ward's telegram stated the board had reduced its 'evy at a time when other boards were doing their best to combat the problem of unemployment, lie sa<d ho had made inquiries concerning the extension of planting operations by the Forestry Department in tho Auckland Province. Tho department could givo work to ten men at Auckland for live weeks and to 50 men at Rotorua for two months. Tho Minister of Health, the Hon. A J. S'nllworthy, telegraphed saying he was keeping unemployment in mind.

" Trifling with the Problem."

"Work is promised to 60 men out of 1000," said Mr Wallace. "It is only trifling with tho problem." Ho added that tho board's relief expenditure had increased from £IB,OOO to £45,000 during tho past three years, and it was anticipated relief would cost the board over £50,000 this year. In 1926 the board had a credit balance of £IO,OOO, and the levy was .25(1 in the pound, realising £61,442. For the year 1928-29 the credit balance had been converted into a debit balance of £15,253, and the levy of .30d in the pound produced £98,429. The levy had been reduced to .28(1 for 1929-30, and would realise £96,061. Whereas in 1928-29 local bodies had been called upon to pay about £o J ,OCO more than in 1926-27, the reduction in the levy this year would mean only a decline of £2368 in local body payments. On tho other hand, the Government would benefit to tho extent of £6837 through tho decreased levy, because its subsidy was based on a sliding scale and was not pound for pound. Auckland's Large Expenditure.

At March 31, 1928, the total number of unemployed bread-winners in New Zealand was 3670, persons affected numbering 10,693. In Auckland alone there were 1460 unemployed bread-winners and 4834 persons affected, figures for the other chief provinces being:—Wellington, 370 and 1272; Canterbury, 296 and 913; Otago, 120 and 255. In 1927-28 the total cost of relief in tho Dominion was £112,519, and £28,815 of this was spenl in Auckland. In 1928-29 a total of £115,296 was spent in relief in tho Dominion, and £47,309 of this was disbursed in Auckland. The net cost of relief to the Auckland Hospital Board had risen from £14.171 in 1919-20 to £47,309 at March 31 last. It was significant that the relief expenditure rose to only £18,120 in 1925-26. The following year it jumped to £25,038 and then to £28,815, being £47,309 last year. Tho sudden increase over 1925-26 was entirely attributable to distress caused by unemployment. It was estimated that in 1928-29 tho increase in relief expenditure over a normal year was £28,000. A National Question.

"Auckland is paying practically half the charitable aid for the whole Dominion, and I do not know how Sir Joseph Ward can say we arc not doing our share," tho chairman added. "These figures demonstrate the incorrectness of the Prime Minister's imputation that we have not levied sufficient to cover the extra cost brought about by unemployment, while other boards have done their duty in this respect. Our largo capital value allows us to keep tho rate per pound lower than, say, Dunedin, with its small area and comparatively small number of unemployed. Our levy was raised last year to .30d to try and pay off the ever-increasing overdraft, and for the current year it is still 10 per cent, above the figures for 1927 and 1928. "It is deplorable that this state of affairs should exist in a young country like this. Wo recognise that charitable aid is the duty of tho board in ordinary circumstances, but the relief of unemployment is no duty of this board. It is the duty of the Government, and should not be a tax on local ratepayers." Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., said there was a tendency for the Government to shift, its responsibilities on to local bodies, and the present instance was a notable example of this. Tho present Government seemed keener on dragging out the Address-in-Roply debate than in settling down to urgent business.

On the motion of tho. I>cv. W. C. Wood, seconded by Mr. W. K. Howitt, it was decided to reply to the Prirno Minister reaffirming the board's belief that tho relief of unemployment was a national question. "The whole position is degrading and demoralising, and wo aro only trifling with the problem," tho chairman said.