RELIEF-NOT CHARITY

Evening Star, Issue 20134, 26 March 1929, Page 11

RELIEF-NOT CHARITY

WANTS OF FLOOD SUFFERERS “ INHUMAN " LANDLORDS CONDEMNED HOMES FOUND FOR HOMELESS ENGINEERS TO REPORT ON PREVENTION Relief should not be given as charity, or the flood sufferers insulted. Complaints were being made that some people were being neglected by the Relief Committee, while other homes were receiving double supplies. Some landlords added greater worries to poor people on Monday by entering tbc desolate homes and demanding the weekly rents. These statements were made by a deputation to the deputy-mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) this morning. In his reply Mr Douglas condemned the “ inhumanity,” as it was described, of the landlords. He made a full statement of the Relief Committee’s plans, and he intimated that more men would be engaged for cleaning up the homes if necessary. Homes for the homeless were being found, and some bouses bad been condemned. Mr Douglas admitted his surprise at finding in the city hovels which were not fit for a dog or cat to live in. Reports of unfair distribution of relief were being made, said Mr Cuttriss, some people receiving more than their share. In some pathetic cases the relief was far from satisfactory, although high appreciation had to be expressed of the work of the voluntary workers. There had- to he an elimination of any suggestion that the sufferers were receiving charity. They were receiving only what was due to them, and it was essential. Many people were filled with too much self-respect and pride to ask for relief. To regard the relief as charity was a direct insult to the sufferer. “ What do you want—a gold watch?” one woman had been asked at the relief depot. The insult had almost broken the woman’s heart. She had iclt like leaving the depot and taking her chance at obtaining relief. It was not right that the flood sufferers should be humiliated. That they should have to suffer from the flood was sufficiently (mart-breaking, and the sense of injustice under which they were suffering should not be accentuated. He suggested that a more thorough investigation of the districts should be made to prevent overlapping, and that none entitled to receive assistance should be overlooked. free homes advocated. Many people had leit inhabitable and insanitary homes, and the Relief Committee was asked to consider the possibility of providing homes for those homcles people. A large quantity of the bedding and furniture should he destroyed. The suggestion was made that tiie Relief Committee should obtain charge of all houses for sale and to let, and ask the City Council to assist financially. The flooded houses might prove to be a bot bod of disease, and the relief committee should recommend the City Council to prosecute the housing scheme outlined by Mr Edmund Anscombe in the ‘ Eccning Star.’ “ Some of the landlords in the Hood areas are possessed with an inordinate desire to collect their rents,” said Mr Cuttriss. “First thing on Monday morning they were around to collect tho rents from people whose hearts were breaking. And these people did not know where to go. Some of these men hold responsible positions. It is a blot on the city, whose reputation depends largely upon the behaviour of its citizens. Ordinary sympathy should have dictated a different course. The landlords should be asked to leave the people alone in the meantime. Perhaps the committee will afford some relief.” The suggestion that two representatives of householders of the Hood area should be associated with the Relief Committee was also suggested. Mr D. Minnock urged that the Prime Minister should be asked to stay over in Dunedin to inspect tho damage. He also declared that the work of cleaning up was not being expedited. ALL REMARKS JUSTIFIED. “ I can corroborate everything that has been said,” stated Mr J. W. Munro, M.P. The remarks were fully justified, and none of the suggestions was unworkable. In the interests of the health of the whole city, many of the houses should bo condemned. The attitude of some of the relief workers was regrettable, but he .knew personally of several incidents where tact had not been used. Perhaps “What do you want—a gold watch?” had been said in a jocular manner. The workers were doing their best. The social workers had probably dealt hitherto with the lower- order of the community, and had probably obtained a psychological view on charity. “ I think wo should make a fairly bold charge to the landlords,” said Mr Munro. They are inhuman to go to people cleaning out their houses and ask for the rent. Two people asked for their rent were old aged pensioners. The landlord had anticipated that something would have come from the Relief Committee, and he was out to snap it up like a shark. I will run the risk of an action for defamation if those people continue to work .that way. I will state their names from the public platform.” DUNEDIN’S WEALTH. Dunedin was a wealthy town, said Mr Munro, and it had no need to go to the Government. The the poor should be placed before the richer people. Instead of raising £2,000 for relief, Dunedin should be able to raise £20,000. Tho wealthy had toured the flood areas in their motor cars, viewing the scenes as if they were a spectacle or circus. They gave their sympathy, but the only sympathy that

counted was the sympathy expressed in pounds, shillings, and pence. 11 It is very painful for me to sit and listen to these remarks,” said Mr Douglas. '‘This is the third flood I have had to deal with. 1 am very much surprised to hear of anybody going round demanding rent from the poor people in houses like that. I hope, if it has been the case, it will not continue, but there are such individuals in every community. Our town should not be blackened through actions like that,” NO TIME FOR JOKES.

Night and day ho had been answering requests by people to inspect their homes, and it must be very difficult for the people to be subjected to any insult when asking for relief. R® l " haps the remark to the woman had been made jocularly, but this was no time for joking. From what he had seen of the social workers and the organisation all were working with the greatest harmony and spirit, and doing what they could to assist. Complaints had been made that some people were being neglected. As soon as ho had received word of the Hood last Tuesday he had left his tea, and worked till the early hours of the morning By 9 a.m. on Wednesday social workers wore visiting the homes. Many people were absent, and their needs were not ascertained, but the city had been posted with extras advising the people to call at tlie relief bureau. They were also greatly helped by the offers of hotel and boardinghouse keepers and others offering to give shelter, food, and clothing. With one exception in personnel the organisation was the same as lor the 1923 Hood; on that occasion the relief had been carried out in a wonderful manner.

“ ] thought we had provided fairly well, but I knew that some must have been neglected in the circumstances, said Mr Douglas. “We are getting daily reports from all over the place, and over 400 cases have been dealt with. Ninety tons of coal have been distributed. We have investigated complaints that relief supplies have been double-banked, and that people have received more than they were entitled to. But only in seven cases were the allegations proved. Personal friends had also helped in some cases, and the others had thought double relief was being given. “ We have the question of providing homes for the homeless in hand, burnished rooms and cottages have been obtained at Tomahawk, and they are ready for people to go in right away. With regard to the cleaning out of tlm homes, w© have put on men where no male assistance has been available. The works department has also assisted. 11 there are further eases, bring them before our notice and more men will be put on. We realise that the work Ims to be done at once, or a serious outbreak will occur.” M>- Munro: The complaint is that the men were not put on immediately after ,the flood. “ It was an awful position.” said Mr Douglas. “We had shiits out night and day to maintain the water supply for the (people. Mr Alexander, the city engineer, has scarcely been in bed since the flood. TO HELP THE POOR. On Sunday, he said, Dr Crawshaw and he had visited the various districts ,and as a result several of the houses had been condemned. He wa.s surprised to see the hovels, which were scaicolv fit for a dog or a cat to live in. The people would nofc be allowed to return to those houses. MV Minnock; Where are they to shay? They have no furniture. Mr Douglas: “Arrangements were made for them to go to other places on Sunday.” More men were being engaged. The city engineer had advised him that morning that men were to be placed on the cleaning out of the houses, and the fire brigade would make arrangements for the hosing of the houses free of cost. The housing scheme was too big a problem for discussion at the present time. He bad read in the pape-s IS tat- a good deal of blame for the Hood was being placed on the City Council. The legal opinion obtained by the council was definite. The council had no control over the Leith when property aim tied on the banks. Mr Munro: That was denied by Mr Colvin last night. Mr Douglas: “ But that is the position. The City Council called on everybody to clear tbo stones from the bed. However, we realised the position, and cleaned the river. One of your speakers last night only a month ago wrote to the council serving notice of a claim for riparian rights, as the council had taken water from the head of the stream for the reservoir.” The original surveyors bad not shown foresight in allowing sections to be surveyed right up to the bank. The owners bad tbeir rights to the centre of the stream, said Mr Douglas, and when -some flood sufferers bad gone on the property of a man in Woodbauglt to take some wood washed up by the flood, he had chased them off with a stick. CONFERENCE RESULTS.

He was pleased to be able to report that yesterday representatives of tbe City Council and Harbour Board bad conferred, and as a result tbe two engineers bad received instructions to immediately prepare a report covering methods of ' preventing another flood and of dealing with such an intensity of rain as was experienced on Tuesday last. The rainfall for such a short period had never been exceeded before, and not even three Leith canals could have carried the water.

The suggestion for the association of the district representatives with the Relief Committee would be considered but be thought the committee was already too large. Three house furnishing experts were making a tour to-day to estimate the damage and to suggest what action should be taken, and on Thursday a Building Committee would make a tour. Only that morning the committee had received application for a grant of £6OO from a dairy farmer at Leith Valley who, had been ruined. The Relief Committee would be guided by the money received and relief grants

would be distributed as fairly as possible. Many people had been unemployed, and had now lost everything. The city of Dunedin could not stand by arid see those people suffer.;