UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18534, 14 January 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

HOSPITAL BOARD’S PLIGHT.

•DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS.

HUGE DEFICITS LOOMING.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday.

The serious plight the hospital boards are in at the present time owing :to the abnormal*, drain, on their resources caused by unemployment, was 'placed before the Premier (Right Hon. G. W. Forbes), the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young), by a deputation representing the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand to-day. It was stated that the deficit for the year for the three major boards— Auckland, Wellington and North Cantei'bury—was expected to total £IOB,--000, and the opinion was expressed that unless financial assistance were given by the Government the Boards’ present operations could not continue. In a statement to the deputation, the Minister of Health said the Treasury had ben recommended to make interim payments totalling £37,000 from the £75,000 allocated by the Government, and it was proposed to allocate the balance of £38,000 before the end of the financial year. Even with that, the sum would fall approximately £50,000 short of actual requirements, and any further sum required would have to be a matter for consideration by the Government.