EPIDEMIC RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 95, 16 January 1919, Page 4

EPIDEMIC RELIEF

BETTER SYSTEM REQUIRED^ ■ There has been considerable public comment of late about the dispensation of relief to the .sufferers ■by the epidemic. At present this is being done through two channels. The Education Department is looking after, orphaned children, and the Hospital Boards are attending to the needs of adult sufferers, and of children who are left with" one surviving parent. A statement on the matter was made by the Acting-Prime Minister yesterday. Sir James Allen said. that the relief of orphaned children was being controlled by the Education Department, and the machinery for this work was in order. With regard to widows and widowers and their children temporary assistance, was being ■ given through the hospital boards. The Minister of Public Health had issued , a circular to those bodies v authorising them to give relief to children up to ' the rate of 10s. 6d. per week' per child, and to give assistance to widowers up to the amount of 255. per week in cases where it is necessary to employ a housekeeper to care for'the children. This was only a temporary arrangement, which would bo in operation, only until tho .Minister-in-Cliarge. (Mr! Russell) could establish other, machinery. Sir. Russell was beiuß communicated with on the matter. The Government would refund to the hospital boards money they had expended in these relief purposes. ■ •