RELIEF WORK IN CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 15

RELIEF WORK IN CITY.

hospital board policy.

fREPU' MADE TO CRITICISM

'••EVERY CASE ON ITS MERITS."

" I am prepared to take all the responsibility," sa 'd " 10 chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace. yesterday in reference to Ibo issue of relief by the hoard to unemployed men who had refused work on relief jobs in the, city and

guburts"l know that there has been a good Jell criticism of the board's action in announcing that no person in need will {, O turned away, but the board has not B cted without fully considering the position of these men," s;iid the chairman. "At present the board is spending the money required from overdraft. Our estimates for ihe coining year have not yet teen framed, but we are looking to the Government to provide the funds necessary to allow us to carry on. I have communicated with the Prime Minister, but the reply received from Mr. Forbes is not at all satisfactory. The policy of the Government seems to be one of procrastination,..and we can get no definite decision, with the result that we do nut know where we stand as a board. Cases on Their Merits. "When the Government lakes over the responsibility of carrying out charitable aid we will cease to grant relief to meu jn need of assistance owing to unemployment," concluded Mr. Wallace. "Unfortunately, your sub-leader on Hospital Board relief does not help us much in the work we have in hand," writes Mr. W. K. llc.witt, chairman of the Relief Committee of the Hospital Board. "The sentiments of it have been applauded by those of your readers, who, apart from the cold, steely reading of the Act, know little of the intricacies and difficulties of granting relief with its hundred arid one complications. The latter are due to the intensely human nature of the work where imperfections abound to a large degree. Every case dealt with has some special feature about it. Thus the point we try to emphasise is that 'every case must, be dealt with on its own merits.' When we issue food allowances, even although the persons applying may not be, strictly speaking—if they have refused work—indigent persons, how about their wives and families? Did the framers of tho Act have such a contingency as this in their minds when it was framed ? Task for Government. "A conservative estimate gives the aversge worker's family as five. A thousand applications would mean five thousand people. In regard to four-fifths of the latter number, where does our duty commence and where does it end ? It was the voluntary or involuntary act of someone which put them in the indigent class. Ministers of the Crown, including two Prime Ministers, have often quoted tho Act, and sometimes they have shown the elasticity of their interpretation when acting upon it/ Where your sub-leader does help us is where you gay that the situation must be speedily faced by the Government. We are waiting for the day •when tile whole of unemployment relief r.ill be taken over by the Department of Labour, or the Unemployment Board, and then they can interpret their own Acts. The relief department has run away from do duty which has confronted it, but has stood up to every test which has been put upon it. and for a long period now has done a humanitarian work of a value vrhich cannot be estimated in £s. d. We are passing through a hard time in our history and little children as well as their mothers are perhaps the greatest sufferers. We must carry out our work and do our job." ACTION BY THE CHURCHES. POSITION BEING EXAMINED.

The present condition of relief workers is being investigated by a special committee of church leaders set, up by the executive of the Council of Christian Congregation?.. This committee consists of Archbishop Averill (Anglican), Bishop Listnn (E:oman Catholic), The Rev. George Budd (Presbyterian), the Rev. E. D. Patchett (Methodist), the Rev. R. C. Roberts (Congregational), the Rev. Joseph Kemp (Baptist), and the president of the Council of Christian Congregations, the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh (Presbyterian). The committee received deputations yesterday from the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Association, when grievances pat forward were examined in the light of official statements secured by the committee.

It was stated yesterday that the committee, while recognising the existence of v ery jeal grievances, understood that the new proposals of the Government were designed adequately to meet all genuine cases. Arrangements had been made for en independent report on the condition of life in the relief camps and, if necessary, ® statement on the whole situation would be made after the publication of the new plan of the Government. RELIEF OF DISTRESS. ACTION .AT TAKAPUNA. To co-ordinate the efforts of a number special social and religious organisaons which have been undertaking independent measures for the relief of disress in the boiough of Takapuna, the ayor, Mr. .T. fiuiniven, has decided to ca 'l a;• jI lie meeting. Mr. Guiniven Stated last evening that a great deal of overlapping had been brought to his Notice and lie was convinced that better results could be. obtained if the activities 01 | he various organisations were brought Vnd:er the control of a central committee. ' money, food and clothing collected in Inline be distributed by the one ' or 2anisation. Giving an id p a of what had already been done. Mr. Guiniven sa : d that, a meat de P r 't had been set up, the meat being Supplied at cost price by an Auckland nrm of butchers. A relief worker would e Priced in charge of the depot and u ° butchers working under the No. 5 *>cherrie would cut up the meat for the purchasers.

Mr. Giiniiven said tv was endeavouring to rlrvipp n scheme with a view to tho, "nploynK'nt of dressmakers who would remodel gifts of clothing.