REQUEST FOR HELP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 376, 18 March 1932, Page 7

REQUEST FOR HELP.

Unemployed at New Brighton Make Complaint. RELIEF ALLOCATION SHORTAGE. “We cannot pay our rents, and nearly every man on this list has been told to vacate his house.” This sentence is taken from a letter signed by thirty-seven unemployed men of New Brighton and sent to the secretary of the Christchurch Hospital Board, Mr W. S. Wharton, with a request for assistance. “ The New Brighton unemployed allocation always seems to be short,” said Mr Wharton this morning. “ Never a week goes by' without a request for assistance from the unemployed down there. It seems unfair that other districts should be granted'adequate allocation for relief and New Brighton left to suffer. The men who are complaining are men entitled to four day's a week on relief, but receiving only two days and a half.” The letter sent to Mr Wharton was as follows: “ We, the undersigned unemployed four-day men of New Brighton desire to place our names before you, so that we may receive some assistance this week. Since Christmas we have been receiving only two days and a half per week: the total per month being £4 13s 9d. As this amount is totally inadequate to keep our families and self, we are forced call on y'our board for assistance. We cannot pay' our rents, and nearly every man on this list has been told to vacate his house. Our position is desperate, and the New Brighton Borough Council .seem to be quite apathetic on the matter, so we therefore ask you to do y r our utmost to help us in our distress.” Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., made a request for an increased grant for New Brighton last week, but the Minister in charge of Unemploy'ment (the Right Hon J. G. Coates) explained that this was not possible, as New Brighton, on a basis of proportion, was receiving the same relief allocation as other districts. It was stated this morning that, owing to lack of funds the council could not increase its relief works.