OUTDOOR RELIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 140, 16 June 1932, Page 3

OUTDOOR RELIEF

WANGANUI BOARD* DISTRICT. PROBLEM IN THE NORTH SECTION Following the statement that £lOOO had been spent in the Raetihi, Ohakune, Waimarino, and Rangitataua districts on charitabre aid, yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board decided that a committee should meet representative of the local bodies in that district, and after scrutinising payments that have been made decide on what action would be necessary to keep down the expenditure in that district. It was suggested that an extra employee to aid the work in Wanganui should he engaged, and that a visit of an official from Wanganui should be made to the district in order to organise work in that area. Mr. Christensen said that charitable aid in the district was becoming a burden. It was really astounding what the amount had risei to be. It was in the vicinity of £lOOO. That would be coming on the board, mostly through unemployment due to mills closing down, end such a charge should be on the Unemployment Board, and not on the Hospital Board. At Taihape they had a most active committee, and that committee scrutinised every case most, carefully. At Wanganui they were almost overburdened with the work for the number of those handling it, and he suggested that the work might be allocated to one officer at the RaetihiOhakune district. He thought that the board would save more than the amount of the extra wages in the lessened cost to the board. Mr. A. 8. Coleman seconded the motion pro forma. He thought that a small committee should go up to the district and investigate the cases. Mr. Alorton thought that system in the district would have to be put on a more definite basis. Mr. Christensen replied that the board was spending up to £l3OO a year in the district, and the saving through having a responsible officer at the head of affair? there would more than pay the wages. Mr. Farley did not. think that the position was actually as bad as it would seem, as the Unemployment Board should be taking over that phase of the work, in view of the Hospital Board's decision not to assist those coining for relief through unemployment after the end of the present month. Mr. Farley moved that a commit tee should go to the district, meet representatives of the local bodies there and see what the position was. They would know far better in that district who would be a responsible officer to put in charge of the payments there. Mrs. Sidde’ls seconded. The amendment was carried and th*? following committee appointed: Messrs Morton, Broderick, Christensen, Farley and the managing-secretary. The meeting also decided that extra assistance shor’d be had for the staff at Wanganui.