CHARITABLE AID RELIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1930, Page 8

CHARITABLE AID RELIEF.

So far as hospital boards in Taranaki are concerned, there is little difficulty in refuting the statement made by the general president of the Seamens Union Mr. T- F. Walsh, as a member of a ’deputation to the acting-Prjme Minister some weeks ago. Mr. Walsh stated that persons were actually being allowed to starve owing to the lack of employment, and the allegation has been referred by the Government to hospital and charitable aid boards throughout the Dominion to ascertain if any blame is attachable to them as relieving bodies for neglect or refusal to grant aid where it is actually needed. There has been no withholding of succour by the Taranaki hospital boards, but the discussion at New Plymouth on Tuesday emphasised how serious a position has arisen in regard to charitable aid. Most ratepayeig aie under the impression that the levies made are almost entirely for hospital maintenance and equipment. From the remarks of the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board it is quite evident that charitable aid is now a considerable item of expenditure out of the board’s funds. The position has been complicated by the extra relief sought by those unable to obtain employment. Originally, the board had little charitable aid to dispense, except to the old and sick, or to women and children in necessitous circumstances. Of late assistance has had to be given to ablebodied men who are unable to obtain employment, and this has had a very adverse effect upon the finances of the board. It is satisfactory fo note that assistance is not given indiscriminately, but that applications, are carefully, if sympathetically, inquired into by ft committee. The suggestion that the board’s committee should join forces with the Unemployihent Relief Committee is worth serious consideration. Speaking broadly, no able-bodied man will ask for charity, State or private, if he can earn a living. There are exceptions, however, who will take advantage of any opportunity to avoid hard work, and for them the way should bo made as difficult as possible. No one desires to see any man, woman or child suffer real privation, nor is there any need for that to occur. Seeing a new .departure is being made in regard to the relief of unemployment the time has come when the relation of ordinaly charitable aid to special relief work should be reviewed.