"WORST FOR YEARS."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19807, 26 November 1919, Page 7

"WORST FOR YEARS."

CHARITABLE AID CASE.

MISREPRESENTATION ALLEGED.

An allegation that relief had been obtained by tho most bare-faced misrepresentation was made at to-day's meeting; of the Hospital and Charitaulo Aid Board. It was stated that the case was the worst of its kind tiiat had 00% curred in b number' of years,. Tho Charitable Aid Committee, reporting on tho matter, said:—" Application was made for assistance on J uno 6 last on account of the illness of tho man X., there being a wife and eight children. Immediate relief in the form of food and milk was given. On Juno 19 the food and milk allowance was renewed and an additional allowance for rent for a period of four weeks.' Tins allowance was renewed ou four other occasions, making the assistance continuous to November 13. The answers given to questions on each renewal of the application were tiiat /the only means the family had was the grant by the board. The committee was throughout suspicious, and this suspicion was increased by tho fact that Mr X.’s sister, who was not working, was dicing maintained in the home, ostensibly to help with the children. During the man's stay in hospital ho stated that the only means of livelihood was the grant by the board. ‘“lt now transpires that in May Mrs X- wrote to the union of which her husband is a member, and a collection was made, and £5 handed to her. and from July 15 to November 17 further sums/ were handed to her, totalling £B2 10s. The man, who was in hospital from June 12 to July 18, was handed a sum of £ls to enable him to go away to fully recover his health, and clothing of a value of £22 was given for tho children. The total received from tho union was £123 10s. Besides the above a church organisation pave assistance equal to about ■ £76 in the early stage of tho man’s illness. The total of tho assistance received by this family from June 6 to November 17 is as follows: Assistance from union £122 10s, assistance from church £75. assistance from Hospital and Charitable Aid Board £45 IDs; total £218.” It was suggested that the family should be requested to nay the money back at so much per week, and, failing that, they should be prosecuted. The matter was left in the hands of the Charitable Aid Committee, with power to not.