BOARD'S POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1929, Page 14

BOARD'S POSITION

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE

Mr. AY. J. Lowe, Social Welfare Officer of the- Wellington Hospital Board, stated to-day that it was incorrect that Young, committed the crime for which he was imprisoned in order to provide food for .his family. As a matter of fact, the board had been supplying the family with food to the average value of £2 a week without a break for the past seventeen months. The board had also made arrangements with the State Advances Department to allow the woman and her children to remain in the house until her husband was released, although the Department had obtained an order of the Court to eject them, and had undertaken to pay the rent during the term of imprisonment. The Social Welfare visitor (Miss Kirk) visited the home last week, and an officer from the Child Welfare Department was there last Monday morning. Regarding the reported statement that there was a decided lack of furniture in the place, 'Mr. Lowe said that the board was quite in the dark as to what had become of the furniture. When Miss Kirk was there, the furniture was packed up in preparation for the removal, and the board had understood from Mrs. Young that there was adequate furniture. The board had taken the responsibility of paying the doctor's fee for the confinement, and, said Mr. Lawe, ho had assured the Mayor of Lower Hutt and the officer of the Child Welfare Department that the board would, in addition, do anything else that might be necessary to ensure that the family was adequately provided for. He had no knowledge that anything fuitliei was aiecossaiy. Poisons jfcu aced g§ assistance psaall^

made application at tlio office of the Social Welfare Department of the board, and an interim grant -was made. Tlic next application was made direct to the Social Welfare Committee. In all cases, the Social Welfare visitor called to the homes and ascertained the circumstances and conditions under which the applicants were living. In a case such, as that reported above, where there was sickness, or imprisonment of the bread-winner, the^ visit was made immediately following the application, or upon the receipt of a report that the family, was in need of assistance, — --- ■ -. . _