PROVISION OF RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 7

PROVISION OF RELIEF

IMPROVEMENT IN AUCKLAND . ‘‘ I FEWER APPLICATIONS MADE (Special to Daily Times) , AUCKLAND, June 1. The opinion that there had, if anything been an improvement in the relief’ position at Auckland was expressed by the majority of the officials of the city relief organisations. It was usual, they said, for the onset of winter to bring an increased number of applications for assistance compared with the few months before, but there was no such increase as compared with last winter. “There is not to any extent the same amount of poverty as there was a few years ago, said the Very Rev Father Holbrook, when speaking of this year’s experience of the Mayors relief organisation. “The position has been improving steadily for the last three years, and, although we are receiving applications for winter comforts such as coal and blankets,, there has been an all-round improvement, I think, since last year.” Sister Esther said the position was certainly no worse than it was last year, and, if anything, it was slightly better. One difficulty which both applicants for relief and relief organisations had to meet was the increased cost of commodities. The city missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder, stated that there seemed .to be no noticeable difference _so far. There might be fewer applications, but it was very difficult to tell.