RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20298, 7 May 1934, Page 3

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Over 1500 Families Apply During Fortnight.

A meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Relief Committee was held this morning. There were present: Mr E. 11. Andrews (in the chair), Mrs A. I. Fraer, and Messrs G. Harper, G. Maginness, W. E. Leadley, J. W. Crampton, A. Peverill, W. J. Walter. R. T. Bailey, J. S. Barnett and W. W. Scarff. Reporting on the work at the Central Depot, Mr Harper said that the number cf families dealt with during the past fortnight totalled 1544; that did not include women and children. Thirtv-four new applications were dealt with durine the week, of which nineteen were renewals. The High Commissioner in London (Sir James Parr) wrote answering a query from the committee as to the system of unemployment relief in England. He stated that under the existing law in England provision was not made for the payment of a sustenance allowance. The allowance, which was known as unemployment pay, covered a man, and if married, his wife and children, at a flat rate. As the law would in all likelihood be amended (there was now a Bill before Parliament) he was deferring sending the information asked for until the new Bill became • I tw. Lees Valley Road. The private secretary of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon J. Bitchener) advised that the Minister was at present out of Wellington, but on his return the committee’s request that he should receive a deputation when next in Christchurch in regard to the condition of the Lees Valley Road would be placed before him. It was unlikely that the Minister would be in Christchurch for some time.