INFLUENZA EPIDEM'G

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1918, Page 2

INFLUENZA EPIDEM'G

FILUDEMIO .sufferers. | DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. 1 [rKU I’iIESS ASSOCIATION. COPYBIGHI.J WELLINGTON, This Day. A Labour Deputation waited on the Hon. J. A. Hanan regarding measures lor the relief of sufferers by the epi demie. In response to a request made by the deputation, the .Minister agreed that tho children should not be separated from their mothers, if it- could pos sibly ho avoided • that the mother should have an allowance. Tho State would have to pay for the maintenance in an institution and that the children should be boarded out, rather than sent to institutions; that mothers should liav o access to any child separated from her, provided her influence was not bad. The Minister said specially qualified women would bo appointed to look after the boarded out children. It was explained that the policy of the Department was to encourage parents in a position to do so to retain their own children and to provide proper homes *for them. The deputation then saw Hon. G. W. Russell on the question of allowances to widow's, and asked t-liat the? should receive the samo amount as soldiers’ widows; also that widowers rot able to afford a housekeeper should ho considered. The Minister said the latter was provided for, but the other was a veiy large question. It was not the inten lion of Government to restrict them to ordinary widows pensions, hut the scale suggested involved so much expense that Cabinet must bo consulted but ho assured tho deputation that the money required to give decent treatment to widows and dependents caused by the epidemic would be found.