AID FOR SINGLE MEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 11

AID FOR SINGLE MEN.

Medical Classification Scheme. RESPONSIBILITY OP BOARD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 30. A statement as to the Unemployment Board’s responsibility in connection with the issue of rations was explained by the board to-day. The following basis has now been adopted to determine the responsibility as between Hospital Boards and the Unemployment Board in the case of single men:— (1) That men who have presented certificates from private practitioners that they are unfit for camp work should be examined by a hospital doctor. (2) If the hospital doctor’s certificate indicates that the claim for exemption on the ground of medical unfitness is not substantiated and the worker persists in his refusal, then he should be denied relief by either body until such time as he withdraws his objection. (3) The following classification by hospital doctors and definition of responsibility for assistance has been agreed upon as a basis: Class A: Men fit for any work in any place. Class A2: Men fit for camp provided light work is given. Class B: Men fit for any work in a city or town, but not fit for camp. Class B2: Men not fit for camp, but fit for light work in a town onl v. Class C: Men unfit for work of any kind. The Unemployment Board will not accept responsibility for classes B2 and C. The board states that there may be cases under class B2 where the board will- be able to assist, but the Unemployment Board cannot take responsibility for the class as a whole.

WELLINGTON POSITION

Examination Of Men Proceeding. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 30. The chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board (Mr Castle) said, in regard to the Unemployment Board’s pronouncement, that the question appeared to have been settled so far as the Unemployment Board was concerned, but whether the proposals would be acceptable to the Hospital Boards Association remained to be seen. So far as Wellington was concerned, the board was in touch with the Unemployment Board with reference to B2 men. It was considered that the Unemployment Board should accept the responsibility for those men, but the point was not yet' settled. He mentioned that the \V ellington Board had appointed a medical board to examine all those relief workers who claimed that they were unfit to go t<* camps. About one-third had already been examined, and quite a number had been found to be fit. The examination of the remaining men was being proceeded with. Men found fit were passed over to the Unemployment Board, which accepted the report of the Hospital Board’s doctors. The granting of relief td able-bodied workless men had practically ceased in Wellington. The position was that where the Government had completed its machinery for providing complete relief, the issue of rations had been stopped. Until the four weeks’ system was adopted at Upper Hutt it might be necessary to supplement the men's wages, but elsewhere the issue of rations would completely cease as from to-morrow.

CAMPS DECLARED “BLACK.”

(Special to the “ Star.”) GREYMOUTH, June 30. At a meeting of the Greymouth branch of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement held in the Lyceum Hall last evening the following remit to the District Council was carried by 97 votes to That all men in camps and those going into camps be declared black, those already in camps to be given a fortnight’s notice.” Jt was also resolved that those single men eligible for work under the No. 5 scheme should go to work, but that j£ there was to be a strike all should be called out.

THE “ £>OLE ” CONDEMNED.

“ There seems to be a lot of propaganda to give unemployed men the dole instead of work, and that is a thing we should be right up against,” said Mr W. W. Mulholland, at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. “ Perhaps those who have been in charge of the matter have been discouraged, and feel like throwing in their hands. Ihe time has come when a radical change of method must be considered.” “ There are some men who can work but won’t,” said Mr J. R. Cullen, the chairman. “ They should be herded into camps and fed. The good men should be paid for the work they do. One can see their point of view.” The meeting passed a resolution condemning the principle of relief without work.

BLANKETS ARE NEEDED

An urgent need of blankets is reported by Red Cross visitors working among returned soldiers. The visitors state that in many houses children suffering from the prevailing whooping cough and colds are very inadequately covered.

It has, therefore, been decided to organise a “ blanket drive,” Lady Wigram, as chairman of the Women’s Executive of the Red Cross Society, has issued an appeal for help. “ There are many people, who lie snug and warm at night who could spare one blanket or the price of one,” she says. “ The Coal and Blanket Fund has more applications than can possibly be granted, and a generous response to this appeal will relieve that fund of the necessity of looking after the returned men.” Donations should be sent to the Red Cross Depot, 127, Worcester Street.