DIRE POVERTY IN AUCKLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 11

DIRE POVERTY IN AUCKLAND

CLAIMS ON HOSPITAL BOARD.

(By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night.

Dire poverty—poverty that is far below the “bread line” —is prevalent in Auckland to-day, and the only thing betw’een many families and starvation is the relief granted by tho Hospital Board. The gravity of the situation is not generally realised. The state of affairs was revealed at to-day’s meeting of the relief committee, which had before it 300 applications, the largest number in its history. At the previous meeting two weeks ago the total was 269, another. record. “The position is drifting from bad to worse,” said Mr. W. Wallace. “We arc becoming desperate. Last year the relief expenditure amounted to £44,000; this year £40,000 was placed on the estimates for the purpose, but as things are trending the expenditure will be £50,000. It represents one-third of the total cost of hospital relief in New Zealand.”

To-day’s list shows that of the 300 cases no less than 158 are from ablebodied men whose position is solely due to unemployment. Many of them are skilled tradesmen.