ATTITUDE RESENTED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 12, 14 July 1933, Page 8

ATTITUDE RESENTED

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

CASE OF DISTRESS

"SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS"

Some criticism of the Unemployment Board in its attitude towards a Johnsonville family which is considered to be in need of additional assistance was made by Mr. E. Windley at a meeting of tho Makara County Council today. The board's position, as revealed in. a letter received by the council, was described by Mr. Windley as a most unsatisfactory stat'o of affairs, and on his suggestion tho council is taking further steps to see if help cannot be given this family.

At a previous meeting the council decided to write to tho board drawing attention to the distressed circumstances in which the family was. placed, The father had a family of ten to provide for. One boy was working on a farm, and a girl was earning £lslOs a month. There was also a boy who had been bedridden'for two years and was always in need of medicine and medical attention, which the parents were unable to afford. The council estimated' that the total monthly- incomo of the family, including the girl's wages and a family allowance for five children at 2s a week, was £10 Is 3d. From this, rent, £4 6s B,d, and lighting and firing, 15s, had to be deducted, leaving £4 19s 7d a month to keep a family of nine, excluding the boy on a farm, but including tho girl in work;

BOARD'S REPLY.

The material part of the board's reply which was received at tlio; meeting today was as follows:—"Because of his considerable family responsibilities, Mr. is receiving relief wages to the limit- possible under the weekly allocation, and I regret that additional help cannot be arranged. It is learned that the amount of the family allowance is £2 3s: 4d per month, which brings the family income to £10 ,4s 7d. Though this may be inadequate to supply all the needs o^ sucli a large family, it is considerably in excess of those which other large families, are compelled to subsist ' upon. Unfortunately, there is no way in which the board's funds can be utilised for the benefit of families such as Mr. —— ■'."

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT

Councillor Windley said that the admission by the board in its reply seemed-to him to reveal a sorry state of affairs. \. As ratepayers, through the Hospital Board, they had endeavoured to make provision for. cases liko the present one, but the Unemployment Board had -recently taken over this obligation. "I want to say that if the Hospital Board was dealing with this ease it would provide 10s a week," ho said. "I consider it is going altpgpfher too far to say that what this family is getting is enough to live on. J When the Unemployment Board: took over the responsibilities, of the Hospital Board it undertook in tho case of largo familios; to provido sustenance in addition to relief work, and it seems to mo to be an unsatisfactory state: of affairs when, we, as 'ratepayers, provido the money to help these people and are unable to do it through tho action of the Unemployment Board."

On the motion of Councillor Windley, it was decided to bring tho. cor; respondenee under tlie> notice of the Hospital Board with a view' of seeing if any additional assistance could be got from that quarter. T The chairman. (Mr. ,E.. -,W. Bothamley): There is tho "further point, that they are supposed to get the full number, of days in, but in the majority of cases they do not get it.' ,\'■'■■