LYTTELTON SETS UP RELIEF COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 5

LYTTELTON SETS UP RELIEF COMMITTEE.

TO DEAL WITH CASES OF DISTRESS IN DISTRICT There was an attendance oE fifty persons at a public meeting held in the Lyttelton Council Chamber last evening to consider ways and means of helping distressed cases amongst the Lyttelton unemployed. The Mayor (Mr F. E. Sutton), who presided, said the port was fortunate in regard to unemployment, which was not as bad as in some of the other towns. ' There were, however, a number of cases in need of help, and they must see that something was done. Mr Sutton suggested that a sub-com-mittee of four or five could be elected, and the committee should then meet each day and investigate each case of distress on its merits. The committee would have to be a strict one to see that the funds were not abused. Borough Council Belief. The special committee set up by the council-for the purpose of providing work for the married men on the cessation of the No. 5 scheme had met that afternoon, and had decided to provide married men with no depend, ants with two days* work a week, married men with one or two dependants with three days’ work, and those with two or more dependants with four days’ work. The scheme would cost the Borough Council £37 10s per week, said the Mayor. At the present time, there were twenty-four single men in the port who had been subsisting on the No. 5 scheme. He was sorry to say that the council could not provide work for other than married men. No doubt the No. 5 scheme or some such scheme would be brought into opera, tion in future. If any exceptional case amongst the single men was brought under the notice of the committee, they would have power to deal with it. It was his hope that no one in the port should go hungry or c °bl if possible. Voluntary subscriptions in money or kind might be given a trial, and, if that system failed, then they should canvass the district. Personally, he believed that the Lyttelton public would respond liberally to such a cause. Mr F. Hobbs moved that a voluntary system of gifts of money or goods in kind be given a trial. This motion, was carried. The Mayor explained that by Mr Hobbs s motion it was meant that anyone was at liberty to contribute a sum of money weekly or otherwise, ar make gifts of goods weekly. It was decided to make the Council Chamber the receiving depot. The Mayor (Mr F. E. Sutton), the town clerk (Mr F. Hobbs), the Rev A. C. Purchas and Mr W. T. Foster (member on the Hospital Board for the district) were elected an Executive Committee to meet each morning and deal with cases as reported. Before the meeting disbanded, the sum of £42 was promised in the room.