FOR RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1934, Page 9

FOR RELIEF OF DISTRESS

MAYOR'S COUNCIL CONTINUES

NEW PLYMOUTH ORGANISATION.

“THE NEED GREATER THAN EVER.”

The New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Council will operate during 1934 on lines similar to those of last year, according to a decision of the council last night. Distress during the coming year would be even greater than last year, it was considered, and £l5OO would be required. That amount is to be budgeted for. Various committees were set up last night, and Mr. P. E. Stainton was again appointed chairman. Present at the meeting were Mr. P. E. Stainton (chairman), Mesdames M. Avery, Skelton, Curtis, T. McPhillips, Southam, Jemison, Misses E. Andrews and M. Arthur, Sisters Corkill and Jackson, the Revs. F. Copeland and J. D. McL. Wilson, Captain Chandler, Messrs. E. R. C. Gilmour, P. J. H. White, C. E. Bellringer, J. H. Ledgerwood, E. L. Mander and D. le C. Morgan (hon.' secretary). The meeting had been called for the main purpose of considering whether the council should function again this year, said Mr. Stainton. The council had worked until the end of December last year.. If it was decided that operations should be continued, ways and means for the provision of assistance to the needy would have to be considered immediately. Last year had been i a record, year as far as the provision of relief was concerned. The council had • worked from April until December, though in the previous year it had ceased operations in August. For the council last year had been a period' of great difficulties, offset by the co-operation and ■ individual support of its members. / A total of over £l3OO was spent in 1933 —three times as much as in the previous year. The council had been greatly assisted by contributions from the New Plymouth Savings Bank and various organisations, including the Rotary Club, and by the proceeds of the Mayor’s Ball and art union allocations. The money had been spent on food, clothing, boots and garden seeds and in numerous other ways to relieve distress among families and individual members of families. “Difficult as .were the months <?f;last year for many families,” said Mr. Stainton, “this year will unfortunately, from present indications, eclipse that period. It will call for . even greater courage, sacrifice and co-operation from the community, but.y?l .think that that will be forthcoming.” . NEED FOR CLOTHING. There were a number,of men, said Mr. Stainton, both employed or unemployed, who were suffering, and would suffer, during the year from lack of clothes. Their families were, of course, equally affected. Regular employment was in no way improving. Mr. Stainton said he did not wish to criticise .the Unemployment Board, but there were numerous men who were trying conscientiously, and even desperately, to better their positions but were penalised when they received extra employment above their, relief allocation by having to stand down for a period. The desperate plight of 500 families would be appreciated when it was realised that the New Plymouth unemployed pay rates amounted to only 18s 9d a week for married men with up to two children, to 27s Id for those with three children and over, and up to 37s 6d. for a few large families. The initiative of men who were trying to augment their incomes was being stultified rather than encouraged. “Who can live on 13s 9d a week," pay rent and make his way?” asked Mr. Stainton. Possibly something could be done to have the stand-down penalty removed. One of the compensations of last year, Mr. Stainton said, was that the assistance given had been appreciated by nearly all concerned. He thanked the committee for its work and* made special reference to the activities of the lady members, particularly Miss Andrews’and Nurses Corkill and Jackson. The secretary, Mr. Morgan, was’also thanked for his services. TUe newspapers and their proprietors had also been of great assistance. - Way and means for carrying on the council’s work were discusesd after a decision had been made that the council should continue to function. Appreciative reference to the work of Mr. Stainton was made by the Mayor (Mr. Gilmour). On Mr. Gilmour’s motion Mr. Stainton was elected chairman for the year. • Mr. Stainton reported that the council would start with a credit of £76. A sum of £5O was allocated to the clothes committee to be spent in buying materials. Sister Corkill said that overcoats and men’s trousers were urgently needed this year. Though the cold weather had not yet come, Mr. Stain ton thought that an immediate start should be made with the provision of clothes. VALUE OF POUND SCHEME. Referring to the pound scheme, Mr. Stainton said it was one of the best schemes for direct and weekly contributions possible. It had been appreciated only since it had been stopped. When it was realised that £3O to £4O was required out of the general fund to keep the scheme going and to keep 200 families rationed it would be seen that it was a large undertaking. Better arrangements however, would be necessary this year. Headmasters and teachers had done good work. Miss Andrews said some people had not honoured their promises to contribute. “We must not have a lot of promises,” said Mr. Stainton, “and only small returns. We must know what we are going to get.” The whole town would have to be canvassed, thoroughly. Last year some districts, including Vogeltown, had not been canvassed at all. Miss Andrews suggested that the pound cheme be arranged without seeking the assistance of school children. Mr. Stainton said that could be left to the pound scheme committee, which would report back to the council. The work done at' Welcome Lodge had been excellent, said Mr. Stainton. A total of 2868 meals and 1047 beds had been given last year, totals being smaller than in the previous year. Money that had not been spent there had gone to assisting New Plymouth people in need. Mr. Gilmour said the council should appeal for larger allocations, from art unions. The amount the council received from the last art union was £2B, and that was many weeks ago. Other societies and organisations received amounts of £lOO, £5OO and £lOOO and more. There were .600 unemployed at New Plymouth, and they should be allocated a fair portion.

Mr. Stainton said that art union profits were allocated to the unemployed in various towns on a pro rata basis. There was probably an amount due from a more recent art union, said Mr. Copeland. The sum of £3OOO had been given to the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, he added. Mr. Gilmour referred to the many requests for assistance in the provision of spectacles and for attention to teeth. He and others were receiving up to 12 appeals a week. Mr. Stainton said that where it was a question of children’s eyes the council

had not hesitated in giving assistance, but they were inundated with applications regarding dental and eye trouble. He knew of 30 or 40 people who required assistance, “but what can we do if we have not the money to provide them with food?” he asked. We must help the most necessitous cases and discriminate as best we can.” The Y.M.C.A. wished to place its facilities at the disposal of unemployed men, said Mr. Ledgerwood. There would be physical drill classes in which they could participate, and reading matter would be placed at their disposal. The following committees were appointed: Women’s clothes, Miss Andrews, with power to co-opt; finance, Mr. Stainton (convener), Mesdames Curtis, Patrick, Avery, Miss Andrews, Messrs. Bellringer, White, R. J. Deare, Mander, Gilmour; pound scheme, Mr. Stainton (convener), the Revs. F. Copeland and Fordham Clark and Mr. Ledgerwood; Welcome Lodge, Captain Chandler (convener), with power to add.

Captain Chandler and Mr. Morgan were appointed trustees of the self-help club. Mr. Morgan was reapointed secretary. The council will hold meetings on the second Tuesday of each month.