THE RELIEF OFFICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 13

THE RELIEF OFFICE

Sir, —I notice in a report of a meeting of the National Council of Women that during a discussion as to the need for a woman investigation officer for the Hospital Board one lady stated that women applicants for relief often failed to receive considerate and courteous treatment. This, in my opinion, is a gratuitous insult to the whole relieving staff, who. during the depression period, have had a most harassing and arduous duty to perform and have carried it out efficiently and with satisfaction to nil concerned —a few inveterate grumblers excepted. As one having business in the relief office, I have observed the demeanour of the staff toward both men and women applicants and have neither seen nor heard anything to give grounds for complaint. Bather have I been impressed with the kind and impartial manner with which the mfiny and varied cases were dealt with. Id the rush of work on a busy day it must often be difficult for an official to bear with unperturbed patience the numerous appeals for assistance, and it says much for the training and good nature of the young clerks that they invariably carry out their duties with tact and due consideration for the feelings of the applicants. Much as one may deplore the necessity for granting relief, the fact remains that tho relieving staff is there to investigate as well as to administer assistance; only the stupidly hyper-sensi-tive and the wilfully misleading could object to the methods employed. Fairpeay.