“CONDONING STARVATION”

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 7

“CONDONING STARVATION”

HALF RATES FOR UNEMPLOYED. PALMERSTON CRITICISES BOARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., April 27. An indignation meeting of citizens last night protested against the action of the Unemployment Board in its decision to pay half rates to the unemployed of Palmerston North on every fourth week by way of sustenance. The Mayor, Mr. A. E. Mansford, in issuing a challenge to the Prime Minister •to take the platform here and justify the decision, pointed out that the workers were only eking out an existence now. How, then, could they live on half rates. The board’s excuse was not want of money, but that it had no capital works. The board had refused to suspend action till the city council considered its estimates in an endeavour to find work. The board was condoning slow starvation. Other speakers included Mr. Graham, president of the chamber of commerce, Mr. Hornblow, chairman of the -hospital board, and the Rev. Mr. Richards, on behalf of the Christian congregations. Mr. Richards said every parson in every church was behind the protest. People looking beneath the surface now saw that they were being humbugged. “It was not what men died for in the war and not what we will accept,” he said.