RELIEF WAGES NOT FOR LIQUOR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 41, 4 March 1937, Page 5

RELIEF WAGES NOT FOR LIQUOR

-Own Correspondent.)

Proper Maintenance Must Come First

MINISTER'S WARNING

(By Telegraph-

W JpjjJuIXn tr TUiN, Xius aay. Wasteful expenditure of public moneys devoted to the relief of unemployment is to stop, according to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who, in a statement to-day, said that steps would be taken to deny relief assistance to those who faii to make proper use of their benefits. For the Maori population, the Minister says that a system of orders for goods may — be adopted, in preference to actuai cash payments. "I am particulariy perturbed at the frequent represeutaticins received by me from reputable citizens iudividually, aud from units of social and welfare organisations of recognised standing, regarding the manner in which, in some cases, moneys provided from the Eiaployment Fromotion Fund for relief purposes are being misapplied, or, m jjlain worde, squanciered in the purchasmg of intoxicating liquors, ' ' said Mr. Armstrong. "Without wishing to infer anything derogatory to oux Maori peoples, for whom I have the utmost respect, the position to which I make reference is unfortunately most noticeable in some districts, where the proportion of Maori population is fairly high." Mr. Armstrong said that he was satisfied some delinite action should be taken to diseourage the wasteful expenditure of moneys provieled from a fund created and maintained with the fundamental object of relieving immediate distress consequent upon inability to secure employment. It could not be overlooked that the Employment Promotion Fund was maintained by direct tuxaxtion upon all sections of the community, and any sane-thinking person must surely be concerned when it was apparent that moneys from the fund to which he or she as an individual cftizen was contributing, were being wastefully expended. "In future, therefore," continned Mr. Armstrong, "steps will be taken to deny relief assistance to Maori and pakeha alike where there is reliable evidence that the reeipient thereof is vvastefully expending same instead of applying the moneys to the purpose for which they are granted, namely the proper maintenance of himself, wife and dependents. "Where suspension of relief is decided upon, the applicants will, however, have the right to represent their case to the Head Office of the Department of Labour, when eaeh. case will be decided on its merits and appropriate action taken tbat will ensure that any relief granted will be spent in a proper manner. " Although 1 have already indicated that the policy is to be applied without any differentiation whatever between pakeha and Maori, the particular eireumstances of the TvTaori are being carefully considered with the object of guarding against misapplication of relief moneys by tEb introduction of a seheme which. will permit of unemployxnent relief assistance being extended by way of orders on suppliers for necessary bousehold or personal commodities. "The practicability of introducing such a system of affording relief is being closely investigated," concluded Mr. Armstrong. "It seems quite apparent that the present system of ' cash payments by sustenance allowance Is not, in some cases, fully meeting the intentions and spirit of the sustenance provisions embodied in the Act."