RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 7

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

WORK AT NEW PLYMOUTH. ACTIVITIES OF SELF-HELP CLUB. Up to the present about £lOO had been spent in supplying materials and warm garments, chiefly for women and children, said Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Fund, yesterday when explaining that the demand for relief was still very considerable. He went on to say that the special cases for which clothing was required had in the main been covered, and except for a few isolated instances it would not be possible to give further relief in this direction from the funds at present available. Owing to the large increase. in applications for assistance under the pound scheme'the relief council had reluctantly been compelled to lengthen the- period of allocations from two to three weeks in each instance as from tomorrow. The falling off in the donations of groceries and so on had had a bearing on the decision of the committee in this connection, but if townspeople could increase their contributions, or if any who had not assisted up to the present could do so now, the committee would be happy to revert to the fortnightly allocation.

Up to the present time approximately 1200 rations had been issued, compared with 400 for the corresponding period last year. Second-hand clothing was still urgently needed and the committee appreciated the continued assistance from a number of townspeople in leaving clothes they had to spare at the old Soldiers’ Club for distribution. There Were others who might be able to assist in this respect. Any help would be keenly appreciated. The activities of the Self-Help Club were increasing. The membership of the club now stood at 400, and it was expected that in a very little while every relief worker would have linked up, so that all would be taking advantage of the facilities. offered to make their limited earnings go considerably further than they would otherwise. The club now offered special facilities for those in need of medical advice, dental treatment or medicines. Family footwear could be obtained on an instalment system, and other . advantageous arrangements had been made for- the purchase of fuel, meat and gropbriM. After considerable negotiations Mr. G. H. Saunders,' managing director of Taranaki AmU&ments, has succeeded in arranging awicture programme for next Sunday night at the Regent Theatre. The pi ■be “Hungarian Rhapsody,” not been shown in New PlymoUthjjipreviously. The whole of the proceeds, will be devoted to the Mayor’s relief funds.