RELIEF OF HASTINGS DISTRESS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 89, 1 May 1937, Page 6

RELIEF OF HASTINGS DISTRESS

Depot To Be Opened Again on June 1 LAST YEAR'S ACTIVITIES "There is quita-a lot of distress still in Hastings and the committee is receiving a number of applications for assistance," said the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, this morhing when announcing that the Belief of Distress Gommittee had deeided to open the depot this year oa June 1. In his annuarreport to'the bommittee, the chairihan, Mr F. J. Hull, said that £548- 13/7 ' was spent last' year in supplying clothing to 375 families. The committee confined the issue principally to underclothing, stockings' and cardif gans for women and girls, underclothing, shirts, trousers and stockinge for bbys and men. "There is a very deeided need at' present for; a distributibn of footwear ta all families in receipt bf relief or sustenance, but this item of expenditure is too costly for the committee, except in very exceptional cases," he reported. During the year 420 cords of firejvood were. cut from the Hastings Borough Couneil's forest at Mangaroa and distributed to necdssitous cases. Owing to the dry weather and the danger of fire, the - cutting was not continued after the Cbristmas holidavs and at present there is a very1 real need of a cheap distribution .of fuel. -Application. was made a ;-morith ago to the "Department of Labour- for a gang of 20 men for the purpose*,' of cutting wood, but so far no "feply has heep received. In future.this' activity "nxay cbst the committee an additional £2* a week approximately as the* Labour Department may require the forenian- to be employed urider Schenie 13.' " ■( During ihe* year, £310' 18/2 wa* paid out* for meat; * " the 'Department • of Labour contributing £156 l6/l0 by .way of • subsidiy. The mea't*iwasf' distrtbutod hy the Ne'w, HeHef ' Workers' AssbciaUon, which cut up -the -cafcaseg and sold the meat to eligible members- at a nominal sum, and £68 19/2 reyenue was paid in- by the association 'from those - saies. , Chrlttmas. Rations. A; distrjbution . of a ration of meat was made to' every family, in recexpt of relief or sustenance for Christinas. . In additipn 4I Christmas orders .were given to old age pensioners etc., apd £60 was distributed to the religious denominations, «, £10 grpnt being mad* to each. ; ? •For general relief 99 grooeiy . ordera have been given for temporary relief, 10 orders for board- and lodgings, - two only diave been helped witb Tent, .10 with eleetric light accounts and eight fares have been paid for men proceeding to jobs. The foilowing vegetables were d»livered from / the coxhmonity garden to* the deppt and" also distr'jbuted ampng. the relief workers and needy families : 63 sacks carro'ts, 17" sacks leeks, 9i sacks peas, 7 sackslbeet," 68' sacks "parinips, 11 sacks lettuce, .11 sacks beans, 51 sacks cabbage (also 900 loose oixes). Plants -were distributed- during last spring as follow ; 35,700 cabbage plants,27,500 cauliflower, plants, 98,000 onion plants. Fifty * sacks" of .oniphs : were harvested ahd are on Hxe racks drying off ; also 300 pumpkins and marrows. From 1J tons of seed potatoes?,12 tons of usable potatoes have been limed- and stbred. . There is still about half an acre to dig. During the .year 9,000 leek plants were planted out. and aro doing wellj also 1400 ' cahhage plants are out. More will - be planted .next week. 'The plants are lqoking very wejl as they have heen , sprayed continnally and are free from moth ahd fly. A good strike has been made with the onion seed growh. the last week • in March and the late sOwing of carrots is coming aWay very well.

Committee't Thankt . The report concludes by stating that the thanks of the committee are dua to the Hastings Borough Council. foi; the supply of firewood from the Borougli Forest-; to the Department of Labour for tbe supsidy on meat; tiie New Relief Workers' -Association, for assisting- in the distribution of meat; to the Investigation and Welfare Committee led by Mrs Maddison for their untiring wotk , in the "distribution of clothing and investxgating the npmerous cases; to the Gombined Banks for their handsome gift of their temporary buildiiig; to Mr A. D. Ross for his xrilling work at all times ; and to everyone who assisted m auyway to help Ikose less f brtuuately . placed.