RELIEF COMMITTEE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3549, 4 May 1939, Page 5

RELIEF COMMITTEE

ACTIVITY iMIAY BE LESSENED NEW SCHEME SUGGESTED That legislation had changed the course of activities, was expressed at the annual meeting of the Cambridge Relief Committee on Tuesday afternoon. It was considered that there would not be many cases to administer this winter owing to the Social Security Act and other avenues of relief that were offering. The Mayor, Mr Edgar James, stated, however, that there were other ways in which the committee could perform valuable service to the community. He said there was a great need for assistance to be available for the sick. Doctors had told him of numerous cases each winter of mothers lying sick in bed with nobody to care for them and their children and carry out general housework.

Many of them were prepared to pay, but there was no assistance available, said Mr James. He considered that the co-operation of women’s organisations in the district would help to solve the problem. The funds of the Relief Association could be well spent in that way.

Those present at the meeting agreed with the chairman, and when officers were elected, representatives of several women’s organisations were included on the executive committee.

The annual report stated that operations had been hampered to some exten.t by the departure from the district of Mrs A. Macdonald. Splendid service had been given, particularly to those in distress, by Mrs A. W. Gane and Mrs Macdonald. They had not spared themselves in searching out those in need of assistance. Without the help of Mrs Macdonald, Mrs Gane found it too much to carry on the work single-handed.

During the summer months the call for relief had not been so great but with the approach of winter it was necessary to appoint an active committee to carry on the good work.

Another reason for the slowing up of relief was the fact that funds were nearly exhausted. Ini response to a letter sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs, sums of money from the monthly art unions had been coming forward and there was now the sum of £42 15/9 in the bank. The sum expended on. relief of distress up to the end of August last amounted to £35 11/11, as well as £5 8/6 which was presented for payment. The credit in hand at present is £42 15/9. The election of officers resulted as follows: Chairman, Mr Edgar James; secretary, Miss K. Ibbotson; treasurer, Mr Frank T. Ray; committee, Mesdames A. W. Gane, E. L. Hardy, S. Lewis, M. Souter, A. Hulme, Mi. Caley, C. W. Clark, the Revs. G. H. Goodman, C. W. Chandler, H. W. Hitchcock, M. W. P. Lascell es, Drs. H. C. Tod, J. Ritchie and L. F. Johnson, Messrs Frank T. Ray and J. V. Richards; distress officers, Mesdames A. W. Ganc, A. Hulme and M. Caley.