UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21981, 16 June 1933, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

"STAND-DOWN” WEEK POSITION OF SUBURBAN DISTRICTS ACTION 'BY HOSPITAL BOARD The Benevolent Committee of the Otago Hospital Board, at, its meeting on June 8, was approached by a deputation comprising the Mayor of Green Island and others in regard to assistance required in view qI the “ stand-down ” week still being observed in that district. As a result, a sub-committee of the board was appointed to communicate with the Minister of Employment and the Minister of Public Health. The following letter was sent to the Minister of Employment (Mr Adam Hamilton) on June 9: — “ I have the honour to confirm my night-letter telegram to you of even date In the /following terms:—Strong representations were made to the board that the “ stand-down ” week in suburban districts is causing, extreme hardship on unemployed workers, and many are in dire straits for the necessities of life. Why is differentiation made in town and adjacent suburbs when the circumstances of dwellers are to all intents and purposes identical., Understand in certain suburban districts other centres ’no ‘ stand-down ’ week and claim the merest justice that Otago districts must he on same footing.” “From the above you will gather this board has been approached to relieve suburban dwellers in their ‘ stand-down ’ week. The Director-general of Health has stated definitely to this board that it must not grant any assistance in eases of indigency caused by unemployment,— as it is not the function of a hospital board to assist cases except for 'O’ class. The Hospital Board has been providing milk, kariol, and karilac for babies of unemployed workers. It is advised that even this cannot be done unless in cases of sickness or where distress is due to other causes than unemployment, and that for families of unemployed persons the Unemployment Board provides extra milk in necessitous cases.

“ In these circumstances the Otago Hospital Board feels that it cannot assist in such cases as were placed before the board at its meeting yesterday; one case being quoted of a man with a wife and child, who earned ,24s 6d per week for three weeks. He had to stand down on the fourth week, and was called upon to pay 16s per week rent, leaving him, he stated, l£d each per meal and allowing no provision for lighting, firing, clothing, and bedding. It is extremely difficult to refuse relief when such cases are placed individually before the board. It was pointed out that the suburban dweller would be satisfied if he were placed on a similar footing to those in the town —i.e., the abolition of the ‘stand-down’ week.

“I have therefore again to urge that the Unemployment Board consider the abolition of the ‘ stand-down ’ week in suburban districts, as I understand has been done in such districts as Petone and in the suburbs of Wellington. The suburbs of Dunedin should, in merest justice, be placed on the same footing. “ One other matter I am directed to bring under your notice, and that is the question of the non-employment of an unemployed worker until 14 days after his registration. In almost every case such persons apply to the board for assistance, a.s they would not have registered had they not come to the end of their resources, and the board is called upon to assist these people for 14 days prior to their employment under the unemployment scheme.

“ I have, therefore, to ask that you and the Unemployment Board will give both of these requests 1 earnest and early consideration.” The letter to the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) on the same date was as follows: — “ I have the honour to confirm my night letter telegram to you in the following terms: —‘ Strong representations made to board that the “standdown ” week in suburban districts causing extreme hardship on unemployed workers, and many in dire straits >for necessities of life. Why is differentiation made in town and adjacent suburbs when circumstances of dwellers are to all intents and purposes identical? Understand in certain suburban districts of other centres no “ stand-down ” week, and claim merest justice Otago district must be put on same footing. Please confer with Unemployment Board with a view to removal of iniquitous conditions and to relieving of present position, which is acknowledged responsibility of Unemployment Board by agreement (circular letter No. 12 of April 7 and May 31). If Unemployment Board shirks responsibilities we shall be forced to incur unjustifiable expense to prevent women and children semi-starving. Urgent action imperative.’ “ Prom the foregoing you will; have gathered practically all the facts in regard to the position of the unemployed in the suburbs of this district. For some time this board has rightly considered that the relief of indigency through unemployment was not one that should be carried by hospital- boards, but, as you are aware, relief was found necessary until the Unemployment Board was in the strong position that it holds to-day. “ The Otago Hospital Board has provided on its estimates this year the sum of £15,000, which is considered little enough to cover its requirements for outdoor relief during the year ending in March, 1934. ' Last year the sum of £14,459 was expended in this direction and from present indications, more especially during the two months of this year already gone, all 1 of this amount and probably more ■will be required. “ Yery strong representations were made to this board’s Benevolent Committee on June 8 that this ‘stand-down week was bearing hardly on many families. One member of the deputation pointed out that he earned 24 s 6d per week for three weeks. On the fourth week he earned nothing, and it was at least 10 days before he received his next pay. He was paying 16s per week rent, and upon the remainder he was expected to maintain himself, wife, and child, which worked out at lid each per meal without providing for lighting, firing, clothing, or renewal of household requirements. Intimation was t’eceived that the unemployed in the suburban districts would be satisfied if they received town conditions. The suburbs of Dunedin aie in exactly the same position as the city. Dwellers in the suburbs require the same amount of food, rents are no cheaper, and it seems iniquitous that the Unemployment Board should place them on a different footing. “I have, therefore, to ask that my request, as contained in the telegram, be given effect to, and that you confer with the Minister of Employment with a view to having this ‘ stand-down week abolished' in the suburbs. “The regulations of the Unemployment Board provide that a registered worker must be unemployed and stand down two weeks before he can be placed on the unemployed register. In almost every case these men come to the board tor assistance during that fortnight, and it is difficult to withstand the appeals made. If a man is an unemployed worker and registered as such it is considered that provision should be made immediately for his employment on the unemployment scheme and that he should not have to come to the Hospital Board for assistance.” An acknowledgment in due course came from the secretary of the Minister or Health, who wag then out of town, and he has now replied in the following terms: — . . “On my return to Wellington this morning I have perused your telegram and letter regarding the stand-down week. Am taking this matter up with the Minister of Employment, under .whose purview come all matters pertaining to the operations of the Unemployment Board.” In connection with the matter of outdoor relief for the current year, the following are extracts of letters received from the Director-general of Health:— “It is hardly the province of the Hospital Board to provide milk, Kariol, and Karilae through the Plunket Society for babies unless in cases of sickness or where distress is due to other causes than unemployment. For families of unemployed .persons the Unemployment Board provides extra milk in necessitous cases. Ihe relief of the unemployed, except for ‘ C men, is not the function of the Hospital Board.”