HOSPITAL BOARD RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23200, 21 November 1938, Page 14

HOSPITAL BOARD RELIEF

Sir, —My nearly two decades of activij participation :in the work of the reliei: department of the Hospital Board should make me qualified to dear and explain sonic of its many ramification!! after some of the vindictive criticism which has appeared recently. The l'atO" payers should know that the relief department of the board is wisely and humanely administered. ; • It is many long years ago since tlio board abolished the old system _olt rations. The list of goods from which recipients can choose has been -extended until it now comprises over 30 commodities, which includes eggs, and such appetising fruit as pineapple, etc., etc., while special goods are given to invalids and sickly children. In 1936 the allowances wero increased by 12} per cent, on account of tlm added cost of goods, while last month a further increase of 10 per cent was fnade. This raises the amount given for bread and groceries for one person to 7's 6d per week, two persons .13s, three persons 16s, four persons 18s:9tl, five persons 21s 9d, six persons 24s seven persons 27s 9d. eight persons ;30s 9d, and so on,.plus meat and null:, also coal and rent if necessary. Last month £450 was given in rent ana board allowances. The largest amount given in any one year was £96,00,., pni tlio distribution of several thousand frozen sheep, which were supplied b> the Government of the day, when tii Hon A. J. Stallworthy was Minister of Health. This year the amount lor relief will probably be £20,000, tb? lowest for many years. The local body levies are only ji third of what it costs to run the many hospital activities. The Goyornineii pavEi another third, and. the other tmro is ' from endowment and collected revenue. On this basis the people get in hospital benefits, infirmary, rcjiev dental, nursing and maternity scn ! etc.. etc., probably the benefit of-tlii times the; amount-which is raised by Honest poor pcoplo are. often, very sensitive about, getting relief, . but board makes it as easy ■as possible 1 them to do so, in the most pm a • kindly way possible. At ' officials visit unobtrusively allcuts of relief, and many/of, to get their orders on city rccogn stores, so thafc.no one in then d - mav know of their need ot htlp-J-", board never divulges names, but-trcai. all cases in the strictest conhdence. . The board is often approached W people earning as much as _. ~ week throughout the whole year. S has ways of finding for the staff, is very efficient, the humiliation and shame is > impostor, but never, with person. My opinion is that not tion of those getting relief names known by outsiders, j satisfied with the way the Board treats them and ; |