INSUFFICIENT RELIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1932, Page 6

INSUFFICIENT RELIEF.

ALLOCATIONS TOO SMALL

HOSPITAL BOARD FEELS BURDEN.

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD NOTIFIED.

The Taranaki Hospital Board has been placed in a difficult position as the result of insufficient allocation of relief funds to the New Plymouth Unemployment Committee to meet the demands. How the board’s outdoor relief expenditure had been largely overspent as the result of men receiving too small a weekly relief payment was represented to the Unemployment Board in a letter from the Hospital Board secretary, Mr. E. Holden. A copy of the letter, which was received at yesterday’s meeting of the North Taranaki Unemployment Committee, was regarded as being for the committee’s information, and no action was taken.

“The amount of money these men are able to earn each Week is totally inadequate,” stated the letter, “and the natural consequence is that able-bodied men are driven to appeal to the Hospital Board for sustenance. This is contrary to the promises made and instructions received that the Unemployment Board would definitely be responsible for all able-bodied men. The Health Department caused us to cut down our estimated expenditure in outdoor relief for this year on these grounds. “The position to-day is that our allocation for outdoor relief is largely overspent and there seems no possible chance of recovery in face of the urgent calls upon our resources for help. Last week the earning of the majority of men working on the unemployment schemes Were £1 4s 4d each. How it is possible for a man to live and keep a wife and family on this paltry amount is beyond the knowledge of most people. “My Social welfare committee is at its wits’ ends to know vzhat to do, and has instructed me to send this latter to you In the hope that you will do something immediately to relieve the present position.”

Mr. Holden stated last night that he had .not yet received a reply from the Unemployment Board.