THEFT FROM A SHOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 12

THEFT FROM A SHOP

SUSTENANCE MAN'S CASE INQUIRY REGARDING FACTS STATEMENT BY MINISTER [by telegraph —own* correspondent! NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday The ease of the Auckland returned soldier, who, it was stated in the Police Court in Auckland on Friday, had stolen from a shop for the sake of his wife and children, was the subject of a statement by the Minister of Employment, Hon. S. G. Smith, to-day, after he had communicated with the Unemployment Board's officer in Auckland.

The case, said the Minister, was that of a man who had been on the board's books since 1931, excepting for intervals when he obtained private work. He was a farm hand by occupation and a married man with two children. He was employed in the Public Works camp for six months in 1933, earning £3 a week. In 1934 he was for some time in a county council camp earning £2 a week and receiving rations. In the same year he received free issues of blankets and boots. He left that camp last Christmas after receiving his Christmas pay and bonus and went to private work, which lasted until March 10 last. He then re-registered and at his own request was placed on sustenance. Country Work Available

The Minister said that country work was available to tho man with the Public Works Department at £3 a week. The statement that he was able to afford only 2d worth of milk daily for a ten months old baby gave an unfair impression of the assistance available from the Unemployment Board's and private relief organisations. "Ho is, in fact, receiving from the Unemployment Board at present 14 pints of milk a week free," said Mr. Smith. "Furthermore, the board is always willing to increase its issue of milk to a family in which there are young children, when it receives from the local branch of the Plunket Society a recommendation that such an increase is necessary in the interest of the health of children. "In common with other relief workers this man can, if he wishes, have ropairs carried out to his own boots and the boots of members of his family at the local boot pool, which charges only for the cost of the materials used, and, in necessitous cases, makes no charge at all. Other Forms of Assistance "Plenty of meat is available to him at 3jd per lb. at the metropolitan relief depot, which is near his house. Free vegetables are also supplied to those relief workers who obtain their meat at the depot. In addition other assistance is available from the prosperity fund, which is a branch of the metropolitan relief depot, and is assisted from art union funds. The prosperity fund is administered by a local clergyman, and in necessitous cases it supplements sustenance pay and provides clothing for the wives and children of sustenance men." The Minister added that the information received indicated that in addition to the assistance which has been given to the man in question from the unemployment fund in the way of clothing, etc., the following has been supplied free from the metropolitan relief depot at various times in 1932: Denims, boots, socks, shirts and blankets, some of these items being duplicated in 1933 and 1934. "Everyone appreciates that relief workers, even with the extensive assistance available to them through official and unofficial organisations, must have a difficult time," said Mr. Smith, "but it is unfortunate that, in fairness to those who are administering relief, the full facts are not ascertained when publicity is given to such a case as this."

REPLY TO MR. SMITH SERIES OF DENIALS MAN NOW IN EMPLOYMENT A reply to th« Minister's statement was made last night by the Rev. G. E. Moreton, who gave evidence in the Police Court proceedings. "The man states definitely that he did not at any time receive £3 a week in the Public Works camp in 1933," said Mr. Moreton. In his last month he received £6 10s, or less than £2 a week. "Regarding the Christmas bonus, the returned soldier states he did not get the bonus, as the period that he was on relief works was two days less than the 13 weeks necessary to qualify. He states also that it was not at his request that he was placed on sustenance. He was told there were no camp jobs available, and he had to 'stand down' for two weeks before receiving sustenance. Moreover, he had no knowledge that there was work at £3 a week available in Public Works camps.

"the man is definite in his statement that he has never received milk rations; in fact. I have seen a ration order in his possession, dated June 5, instructing him to apply for ration orders for milk at the Auckland West Post Office next Thursday and each alternate Thursday following. I myself know that free vegetables are not always given with purchases of cheap meat and the Minister's reference to the Prosperity Fund is futile; the fund has already been exhausted. "Finally, I have a letter from the Rev. H. Johnston, honorary chaplain to the Dock Street Mission, showing that this man's wife and child are at present receiving attention from a doctor. 'J he letter verifies the circumstances of the case in full.

"As a result of the publicity given the ease, the returned soldier has received a permanent position at £2 10s a week, for which he is most grateful. Thus he will no longer be a charge upon the Unemployment Board or relief organisations."