CHRISTCHURCH DISTRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18166, 3 November 1930, Page 13

CHRISTCHURCH DISTRESS.

“SITUATION IS TERRIBLE.” “The situation Is terrible,” said Cr. A. I. Fraer, who is in charge of the central relief depot at the Christchurch City Council Chambers, o Sun reporter. There has been no decrease whatsoever in the number of applications for relief, she said, and with the passing of the winter donations of money and goods had dropped considerably. Some of the cases had been particularly distressing, the other day a man had burst into tears at the depot. “There is no doubt that the donations of money and foodstuffs have dropped greatly,” -said Cr. Fra.er. “One can’t blame the people; the thing has dragged on for such a long time. A tremendous lot has been done by people to assist, but not so much money has come in this year as last, and the demand has been very much greater. I wish I could see some light in the situation." It was noticeable, said Mrs Fraer, that a different class of man was now beginning to apply for relief. A large proportion of the labouring men had been absorbed on relief works in the country by this time; and now unemployed workers of the “white-collar" class, such as clerks, who were not suited to labouring work, were being forced by circumstances to apply. It had been necessary to supply many of the men going to labouring jobs with boots, said Mrs Fraer; she had been granted £lO by the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee for this purpose, and this money had been a great blessing. Urgent Need of Donations. The depot is In urgent need of donations of food and clothing—and money. Gifts of men’s trousers and boots would be particularly welcome. The committee of the Unemployment Relief Association, Ltd., the organisation which has been formed by the unemployed to carry on various co-operative businesses, is busily engaged in getting its venture launched. This week they began a canvass of Christchurch to 1 sell shares, the purchase of which really amounts to a donation, as there are to be no profits. For some time past the unemployed have been engaged, on the co-operative- system, in such activities as window-cleaning, suitpressing, and boot repairing, and a member of the committee said that these ventures had been quite successful.