£498 GIVEN IN RELIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1933, Page 15

£498 GIVEN IN RELIEF

AID FOR PETONE FAMILY POLICE COURT ACTION. HOSPITAL BOARD GRANTS. Wellington, March 11. On the strength of certain representations allegedly , made that a family named Bartlett at Petone was in straitened circumstances, and that some of the members were in ill health, the Wellington Hospital Board, for a period of over three years up to October, 1932, granted rent, relief and rations amounting in all to £498 4s 6d. The board now alleges that some of these representations are false, and accordingly proceedings were taken in the Police Court yesterday against certain members of the family. It was stated that in the period, the income of the family had averaged between £6 Ils and £ll 16s 6d a week. . Proceedings were taken against the mother, Maud Bartlett, the fattier, Alfred James Bartlett, a son, Keith Bartlett, and a daughter, Mona Bartlett, but when the defendant Mona Bartlett produced a letter to the effect that her father and mother were unable to attend court, the magistrate, Mr. E. Page, agreed to the case being taken against Mona and Keith Bartlett together, the other proceedings being adjourned. Mona and Keith Bartlett were charged with being rogues and vagabonds in that they made false representations to the Wellington Hospital Board in order to obtain rent, rations and relief. Both pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Wellington. Mr. A. J. Mazengarb, who appeared for the Wellington Hospital Board, the informant, said that the alleged offences were committed by members of the Bartlett family continuously from April 5, 1929, to August 1, 1932. Throughout the whole of that period rent, relief and -rations had been supplied by the Hospital Board on the representation that the family of six was in illhealth and poor circumstances.

’ NO SUSPICIONS.

The methods of the family, he said, were so complete that although they were visited each month by an officer from the Hospital Board there was no suspicion for some time. The officer who dealt with relief for the family had seen the boy, Keith Bartlett, at a race meeting. Inquiries ’made resulted in evasions, and nothing definite came about until October. On October 7 Mrs. Bartlett wrote to the board saying that they would no longer need relief. Counsel said that for six years one of the boys had been employed in a timber mill. From September, 1929, to October, 1932, the family had received £498 4s 6d in rations and relief. The weekly income of the family had averaged between £6 lid, the lowest, and £ll 16s 6d, .the highest. About £4l had been provided also by charitable contributions from various organised sources and from private individuals. The first witness called for the informant was Harrison Gobel, employed by the Wellington Hospital Board. Witness said that Keith Bartlett applied to bun for relief on two occasions, and he reported to the Hospital Board.

DETAILS OF FAMILY’S INCOME.

Counsel: Did you see him on July 18 of last year?—“Yes. He applied for relief for his family. He made a statement about the family’s income, which he said was 15s a week, obtained by himself by relief work.” Had you seen him previous to that anywhere?—“Yes. At a meeting of the Hutt Park Trotting Club.” Witness said that Keith Bartlett made a further application for relief on August 1, 1932. He had said that his father was at that time an out-patient at the Wellington Hospital. Witness again made a grant to the family. Anne Leila Gray, a visitor of the relief department of the Wellington Hospital Board, said that on July 15, .1932, she made a report to the board following a visit to the Bartlett home, recommending that rent. and. rations be granted. George Percy Pettigrew, accountant to the Patea Farmers’Co-operative Freezing Company, said that Alfred James Bartlett was employed in the freezing works from December 14, 1931, to the week ended October 15, 193?. Except for a few odd days he was constantly in work. He earned during this time a total of £lB9 Ils lOd.

EMPLOYMENT OF SONS.

William Davidson Smith, accountant to the firm of J. C. Hutton,. N.Z., Ltd., gave information concerning wages earned by a member of the family, Desmond Bartlett, who was employed in, his firm. Albert Lansdale Cook, manager. of Cook and Sons, .coopers, gave particulars of the earnings of Lionel .Bartlett, who had been in his firm’s employment. Dr. C. R. Findlater,. of Lower Hutt, who had attended members of the Bartlett family, said that she was called in on April 14, 1932, and was requested to give a certificate as to its health and circumstances. In the certificate she testified to the precarious state of health of Mrs. Bartlett. William Jeffrey Lowe, relief officer of the Wellington Hospital Board, said that members of the Bartlett family had made statements to him concerning their circumstances. Mona Bartlett visited him in April, 1932, saying that none of the boys was working and the family were in necessitous circumstances. They were not in . a position to pay the rent. A total of £498 4s 6d had been granted by the board up to October, 1932. Ernest Walter Hayton, clerk in the Railway Department, said the records showed that Keith R. Bartlett was employed in the department from October 21, 1929, to December 12, 1930. His wages were £3 13s and later £4 8s a week. No evidence was. called for the defence, and both defendants, Mona and Keith Bartlett, were committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

health hints.

“A brisk run in the cold night air is excellent for the blood,” says a writer of health hints—that is, of course, if you take a dose of Honey Acid, the great double strength cough alleviator, afterwards to prevent catching cold. Honey Acid is sold everywhere at 2/- and 3/6.