CORRESPONDENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19640, 7 November 1933, Page 11

CORRESPONDENCE

RELIEF IN TIMARU. To the Editor of The Timaru Herald *' Sir, —Kindly allow me space in your paper to comment on the secretary’s report to the Central Relief Society. I would like to know how the figures are arrived at. We poor unfortunate unemployed, the genuine ones I am speaking for, are subjected to all sorts of insults. The report reads well, no doubt, but it requires explaining minutely, and I think we are justified in asking why some get so much help and others nothing. Many hundreds, besides ourselves, never ask for charity. We get 18/9 to live on; 10/- rent has to be paid out of this and now the tea has been put up. This is 3d more on our small lot. Where does our help come in? If the Relief Society talk about so much help, why charge more for tea. We have always paid for everything—boot repairing and everything else, from the Relief Depot, but to read the report and balance sheet, and listen to the remarks, many will still say: What a good time the unemployed are having! My husband and myself have given hundreds to charity, when we had means. Now we are like many more unfortunate victims much reduced in circumstances. We do not like slurs being thrown at us. The secretary reports that the average per family works out at £2 7s. What about the families who never go near the Relief Depot, and the genuine ones They always pay for everything they have, namely repairs of boots, wood, coal, etc. I say again: Close the Depot and give the decent citizens, tradespeople and all, their proper rights to live. I am not blaming the Depot. They are doing their best. But let us urge the Government still more to do its duty to the people. Recently a letter signed “Taxpayer,” appeared in your columns urging there should be no more increase for the unemployed. “Taxpayer” must remember that if everyone got more money to spend in the proper way, it would mean more revenue, and that would help the Government. So let “Taxpayer” think in the right direction. We want a Government for all, not class distinction, as is plainly shown by these deeds.—l am, etc.,

ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE. Timaru, November 4.