PENGUIN RELIEF FUND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 9

PENGUIN RELIEF FUND.

■ .....— WHAT THE COMMITTER IS DOINGA numbor of'complaints to the efFoct that little could bo learned as to liow ;tho Penguin Relief Fund is bomg administered led a representative of Tiik Dominion to disouss tlio matter with the hon., secretary of tho Reliof Committal, Mr. John R. Palmer, Town Clerk; .- . Mr. Palmor explained, in answer to a com-. plaint,' : that ' the ; money. was not banded out in: Buffioioiitly- large sums -to enable a sufterer to. make the best use. of it, that the conimitteo, had throughout determined not. to make largo; payments: to any: of tho sufferers, although a considerable jiumber of thorn' appeared to hayo' an idea that they: could demand tho.monoy. Careful inquiry was made eve^' application,'and when tho committee 1 was satisfied as to the' bona fides of 1 the applicant such sum was given as would meet his or her. requirements. In ono case, for' instance,: a woman who had lost her. husband in tho disaster arid had' no children was receiving an allowanoo of £3 per month, which sum' the.committee was convinced was a fair ,ono as she was miable to do hard work. But. Btill .this lady thought sho should receive a lump 3lim. If the applicants.were/given, what at'the end of a few weeks they, 'would, h»yo nothing left, >,The /. committee studied each ease, and thoy had not' yet. met a case where it was;considered advisable : to ; hand' over; a lump, sum."The applicants, or soma of t'liom, olamournd for their share of t'ho<-.i)_ioney subscribed,; but. tlio committco took oit: that : ;tho :'fund ;]wos raised to meet'' .oases . ofdistress; and -thoy / wcro using' the fund as they, considered tho donors would uso) it. .Calls ;«-cro made on tbo committee from far. and wide, and fresh cases wore still ooinwg in.. Only ;last week a man who had been on,. the; Pehguin: called' on Mr. Palmer, having just heard that a relief fund was in existence.He, had gono into .tho back-blocks after tho wreck, and laiow or cared' little ■ about . What s Was. doing in the.outside world. A, few; days. ago;.'he',inet. another of the Pcn;unfortuiiate's,■ aiid .from tho:ciLsuiiiir conversation learned of tho Relief Fund, and consequently sot" out to .interview the'seoretary of the committee: ; > -

■ ' As what is,being,done with the money, iWat is.tho out: to .'date to individuals,, the; committee consider that they .wnJwMa' fairness to,tlie feolings of the recipients of ; help give, particulars in tho' new's•papora from time to :timo, but a detailed -statement of, receipts and expenditure up' to May -20 las been . handed, to the' editors. of ,tho three uocal: dailies,: together ; with a state-' ; ment .'of i disburseiMnts 'in each case, "cither in cash or:for goods suppUed. Anotner. bal- . &ncG-shcct \s jll bo provided'when it is submit- : ted' to. .the next general, moeting, the idea being that although tho publicr cannot be takeh ;inte -the':.full -confidence 'of thoVcommittee iaa? : td[v details, /contributor's- can rest assured :that;;the';coinniittee is not - workine without;:,system - ortrying', to. hide: anything ft,was; recognised correspondents to-tho dajly press would dcsiro to probo-ccrtain ters to a void; unnecessary publioity"tho' abovo oourso waa pursuedi ■< • Rou 6 hly speaking, tho amount paid out of tho; fund to',datois ? about £720 ; ■■■"■■