RELIEF OF DISTRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21240, 21 July 1932, Page 11

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

FUND. OF £BOO AT WAIHI LEGACY FROM WAR PERIOD QUESTION OF DISPOSAL [by telegraph—own "WAIHI, Wednesday Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1914 a start was made to raise a fund in Waihi for the relief of cases of distress arising therefrom, and early in 1915 it was decided that two-thirds should be sent to the Government, and the remaining third, rather over £4OO, retained for local needs. This sum was then deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank in the names of three trustees, one of whom was Mr. Dawson Donaldson, then Mayor of Waihi, and now of Auckland. Since the sum was banked no call has been made on the fund, and with accruing interest th© total at present is rather over £BOO.

Mr. Donaldson, t the only surviving trustee, came to Waihi yesterday, and a meeting of citizens was held in the evening to consider the administration and distribution of the fund.- Mr. Donaldson stated that it was originally intended that recipients of assistance should be residents of Waihi or Waikino, but some of those who had been associated with the fund as contributors had since left the district. He suggested that in special cases of distress these people should benefit in the distribution of any grants made. He also suggested that the present Mayor, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, and Mr. J. B. Beeche be associated with him as joint trustees in the administration of the fund. Various views were expressed by others present, but no decision wai reached, the meeting being adjourned to August 13.

DRAINAGE AT PUKEKOHE WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED MARRIED MEN FROM AUCKLAND [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Wednesday At a meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council this evening it was reported that advice had been received from the officer in charge of the Auckland Labour Department, Mr. W. Slaughter, that unemployed labour would be made available for work on the council's borough drainage scheme. In his letter to the council Mr. Slaughter states: —"The men will be married men, registered at the Auckland bureau, and will work 40 hours per week. The men with less than two children under 16 years of age will receive £2 per week and those with three or more children under that age, will receive £2 10s per week. The men will cater for themselves and the accommodation, transport and insurance will be paid by your council. I regret that, under present conditions, I cannot agreo to the employment of local men, as the camp scheme was instituted for the purpose of relieving the congestion of unemployed in Auckland City, and, further, all the available local labour will be employed for some considerable time on reproductive work by the Franklin County Council." A special committee which the council had set up tb investigate the matter was instructed to make further inquiries. .If a favourable reply is received the town, clerk is to arrange' for a poll on a convenient date to ascertain if, the ratepayer are willing to continue with the scheme.

NORTHCOTE RELIEF WELFARE LEAGUE'S REQUEST A request, from the Northcote Welfari League that a donation be made to • its funds and that it be allotted the proceeds of the next charity football match was referred to the Central Relief Committee by the Northcote Borough Council. "The Central Northcote Relief Committee had been set up with the idea that.one body should coutrol all funds,, said the Mayor, Mr. R. Martin. Ifc. would not be right for the council to make a donation to every league. It was decided to emphasise, in reply to the Welfare League, that the forthcoming charity xootball match was solely the concern of the Central Relief Committee.

SHOW COMMITTEE'S GRANT

DONATION OF £IOO AUTHORISED A donation of £IOO to this Mayor's Un« employment Relief Fund has been authorised by the sponsors of the Auckland Winter Exhibition, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Manufacturers' Association. The free admission of unemployed men to the show was considered by the joint show committee, and after discussion it waff decided that the greatest benefit would be conferred on the men by making a cash donation, which will be paid into the fund,at the close of the show.

It was also decided to allow free admission to every unemployed boy who produces acknowledgment of registration at the Farm and City Careers Bureau.

EMPLOYING SHARE-MILKERS EXPLANATION OF SCHEME [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday The small-farm plan and the small* farm share-milking agreement were explained at Ngaliinapouri by Mr. G. B. Melrose, Government district organiser for Waipa and Kawhia. In referring to the small-farm sharemilking agreement, Mr. Melrose explained that it provided for the erection of a cottage, cowsheds and other outbuilding's on a farm, tho farmer undertaking £0 employ a registered unemployed married man at a minimum wage of £2 a week. The Government would erect the cottage at a cost of £l7O and a cowshed for £BO. If the farmer so desired, he could erect the cottage and cowshed himself. All farmers present voiced appreciation of the share-milking scheme and assured Mr. Melrose that they would further the scheme in their respective districts. NEW GAMS' ARRANGED ROAD WORK NEAR WHAKATANE [by telegraph—own correspondent] WHAKATANE. Wednesday The Whakatane Couuty Council has finalised arrangements with the Unemployment Board for,the establishment; of a relief camp on Douglas Hill, on the WHakatane-Opotiki mam highway, ine work includes tho straightening of the notorious Corkscrew Hill, which has ueen a source of danger to motorists for years. Married men are being selected and hey will work under the No. S Arrangements are being made to anßnienfc wages by the issue of free meat and foodstuffs.