UNEMPLOYMENT PAY ABUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 124, 11 June 1937, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT PAY ABUSE

"Simply Terrific Some of the Things One Hears" COUNCIL DISCUSSI0N "What check-up is being taken in Hastings regarding those xeceiving unemployment moneys 1 ' ' asked Cr. G. W. B. McCormick, at the meeting of the Hastings Borough Council last evening. The brief .ddscussion that ensued revealed that there were apparently cases very sixnilar to those which had reeently been given publicity in the Court proceedings in various parts of the Dominion, ' ' Well, it is not a matter for the council/ ' said the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison. "A lot of people are getting time off from work, so I understand, to enable them to go and colleet their dole, 1 ' said Cr. McCormick. "It seems to me that if there hasn't been any attempt made to check-up on those receiving sustenance and relief, it is high time that some move in thns direction was made. ' ' Mr Maddison pointed out that it was for the Government to undertake such steps. Investigations in other places had revealed a position prevailing that was a scandal, and he understood that a similar investigation was being made in Hastings. "I think it is the duty of every right-thinking citizen to help such an .dnvestigation to report any cases of ^abuse that they come across," said Cr. McCormick, who went on to say that there was ■ a • notorious case of a man who drives hiis car into town, parks it by an hotel and walks round to collect his dole. \ "There is a good deal of it going on, ' ' said Cr. A. I. Kainbow. "It is simply terrific some of the things one hears," said the Mayor. He said that there were cases of men who drew money from sustenances, but gave very little of it indeed to their families. One such case had come before the Eelief Committee in which a man tcok home only 7/- of his (sustenance allowance. It was admitted that the Government had given the power for the wives to receive the payments, but he said that there were cases on Teeord where wives had obtained such orders on their husbands ' allowances only with serious and very hurtful effects upon themselves when the men came home. ' ' There is not the least doubt that it is all very disturbing indeed," he said. "I feel that a lot of our sustenance money and unemployment money, too, os going on drink. ' ' The discussion then lapsed.