WIVES SEEK AID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 4

WIVES SEEK AID

HUSBANDS IN CAMP FAMILIES NEGLECTED HOSPITAL COMMENT Comment on the action of the defence authorities in accepting married men for service in the special military force while there were many single men available was made by the chairman of the Southland Hospital Board, Mr. T. Golden, at a meeting of the board in Invercargill. The discussion arose when the secretary, Mr’. A. M. Williams, mentioned applications for assistance which had been made by dependants of men entering military camps.

“What is the board going to do about these applications?” asked the secretary. “Four applications for relief have been received from wives of men who have gone into camp and left their dependants without provisions.”

He said that in one case a married man with four children had gone into camp and had not made any arrangements about the allowance to be paid to his wife. That man worked only one day in the week before he went to camp and he was paid 245, out of which he bought three tins of tobacco. In another ease the husband earned on an average £3 a week. He was paid £2 14s the week before he left for camp. There were three children to be cared for. In a third case a husband left for Burnham and had to use his weekly pay to provide nis requirements (clothes and other things) for camp. His wife, in her application to the board, stated that she would not gej: any money for the home until next week.

■ “We do not -want to discourage men from offering their services in the defence of their country,” said the chairman, "but it seems wrong -that they should take married men when there are thousands of single men available.”

Dr. J. A. Pottinger: Nothing short of national compulsory registration will meet the situation.

The chairman: The board has got to help these people. We cannot see them in need.