DISTRESS IN AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 157, 31 December 1931, Page 9

DISTRESS IN AUCKLAND

RUSH FOR FOOD TICKETS

AN UNRULY ELEMENT

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 30th December. A squad of seven policemen was necessary to maintain order among the abnormally large number of people seeking food tickets from the relief office of the Auckland Hospital Board today. This state of affairs is unprecedented in Auckland.

To-day's total of well over 1000 recipients of relief was phenomenal and was more than double tho previous highest number of -175 dealt with in the depth of winter. The applicants included not only aged and infirm persons, but able-bodied relief workers, who are in a sorry plight owing to the closing down of relief work during the holiday period. Long beforo the office doors wero oponed at 8.30 a.m. applicants had arrived and had taken up their positions in the queue that was rapidly forming. Their earnestness, however, availed nothing when an unruly section arrived at a more leisurely hour. Instead of forming at the end of tho line, some newcomers attempted to "jump the claims" of those already waiting. Confusion resulted, and both Mr. W. Wai-' lace, chairman of the Hospital Board, and Mr. C. N. Newman, chief relieving officer, attempted to remonstrate with tho malcontents, but in vain. . To cope with the position, three policemen were summoned. They had no difficulty in restoring order, but to prevent any further trouble four additional policemen appeared on the scone. The commodities most in demand were butter and cheese, flour, sugar, and matches. Honey was eagerly sought after, especially by mothers whoso children have been unable to shako off the effects of whooping cough contracted during the recent minor epidemic. The desperate nature of the position was emphasised by Mr. Wallace. "The fact that for tho first timo in tho history of the relief office policemen had to be summoned to prevent unruliness is sufficient indication that the limit has been reached," he said. "If tho Government does not do something about the matter tho staff will break down. Moreover, the increasing number of relief workers seeking charitable, aid is straining the board's finances to the utmost."