RELIEF MEASURES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 7

RELIEF MEASURES.

Coupon System Likely to be Adopted. STATEMENT BY MAYOR. Some concern was expressed by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) regarding statements made that if certain particular schemes for the relief of distress in Christchurch are not adopted, the public will not be disposed to subscribe to the relief fund. He characterised these statements as not at all helpful to consideration of the problem and as liable to create a feeling of dissension. The system most likely to be adopted, he said, was that of issuing coupons for the supply of groceries on the lines of the method used by the Unemployment Board for the issue of rations in special cases. The method of issuing the coupons was a matter upon which a decision had not yet been reached. “ The method of the distribution of relief,” said the Mayor, “ has for some time past been subjected to very exhaustive examination. It has been discussed at a meeting of the Metropolitan Relief Association, at which I was present, when the director of the central depot (Mr Cape-Williamson) put forward his proposals for collecting from those obtaining relief some portion of the cost; at a conference representing the Relief Association, the Progress League and the Mayor’s Fund; and there is now to be a further meeting of representatives of the conference and the Unemployment Board’s officers, with a view to arriving at a basis for a satisfactory scheme. Nothing Decided. “As yet, nothing has been decided, but I can say that all the questions involved are being gone into thoroughly, and it is reasonably certain that a coupon system will be adopted for the supply of groceries, although the question of what machinery will be used to issue the coupons has still to be decided. It is at present being examined by a sub-committee, which will present its report to me, and I will then call together the original conference. ‘lt is not feasible to do the whole of the work by means of coupons. It will not be possible, for instance, to use coupons for the supply of meat, because the Unemployment Board purchases stocks of meat and sells it to relief organisations at cost price. That work will still be handled by the depots, and it seems that from the point of view of economy and of getting the best financial results that the depots will also handle the distribution of coal, clothing, and perhaps bread. Small Charge May Be Made. “It is possible, too, that in regard to the supplies, apart from the groceries provided by the depots, that some small charge may be made for some of the items, but any suggestion that the question is nor being subjected to comprehensive review is not correct.” The Mayor said he had not favoured open debate on the questions involved, for the' justifiable reason that anything in the nature of internal dissension was likely to do a great deal of damage, but every point of view had been emphatically and rationally stated at the meetings, and everyone concerned was doing his best to arrive at a good system. “ The Best System.” “We can’t all get our own way in these matters,” he continued, “ but I should say that when I was operating the coupon system through the Unemployment Board’s machinery I found that it worked very smoothly, and in my judgment it is the best system that has yet been devised. “ A great deal of service can still be given to the people by the relief depots, not only in the way of rations and clothing, but also in connection with the housing problem. I am exceedingly anxious to add to the service this winter by supplying ill-nour-ished children in the schools with free milk if I can get sufficient money for the purpose. I do hope, however, that the public will realise that we are trying to give the best service possible with the means at our disposal."