NOT LOOKING FOR WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1930, Page 2

NOT LOOKING FOR WORK

APPLICANTS FOR RELIEF. STORY OF A SCRUBBING JOB. A varied experience as to distress relief is related by the superintendent of the Presbyterian Social Service Association in Dunedin. A husband and wjfe called at his office recently and asked if he would pay their overdue rent. He could not, and 'said so. Then they besought clothing, of which he had none x to give. The next request being for food, the superintendent looked over the list of relieved applicants, a copy of which is regularly sent from the Mayor’s relief depot as a safeguard against overlapping, and, observing that these two applicants had been already supplied, he once more said “No.” The superintendent added: “I can do something for you—l want some scrubbing done at the home in Anderson’s -Bay, and if you like you may have the job.” “The very thing,” replied the husband, and they were duly engaged. But that was the end of it. They did not S°- , . Subsequently four women, applying for aid, were separately offered the scrubbing, and each affected, to jump at the chance, but not one of them reported on the job'. As the work was urgently needed the superintendent rang up" the Trades Hall, told of his disappointments, and asked, if there were any men on the unempolyed roll who would tackle the scrubbing. This time he scored a bull’s-eye. One of the officials said he could find workers at once, and' three men were promptly engaged.