RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20360, 18 July 1934, Page 14

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Opposition to Revival of Pound Scheme. “It is just a case of prolonging the agony and of the poor feeding the poor,” said Mr S. W. Richardson at a meeting of the Richmond Burgesses’ Association last evening when the Pound Scheme was under discussion. The subject was raised when Mr J. Rowe said that a meeting was to be held this evening to consider means of augmenting the Mayor’s Relief of Distress Fund and that one suggestion was that the Pound Scheme should be reinstituted. Mr Rowe said he did not feel like taking any part in the scheme when the Unemployment Board could give money to help other businesses. I)Ir P. Buist said he did not believe in the principle, as he thought money for the relief of distress should come from another source. Something must be done and he thought that otherwise it was the finest scheme of its kind to put bread and butter into the homes of the workless. Mr Rowe: That is all right but it comes from people who can ill afford to giye. Others who can afford it only

give small donations. The chairman: The responsibility has got to be shouldered in a national form.

A member: We can take it as general that this meeting is definitely against the reinstitution of the scheme. The Government is wise enough to know how far it can starve the people and avoid revolt. It also knows how to work the people. The chairman said he thought that something would be done soon and the No. 5 scheme, which was the “ curse of the country,” would go out of existence.