THE UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1931, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED

CUT IN RATIONS. ( By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. A general protest against the provisions for the relief of unemployment was made by a small section of the unemployed o-diiv. They made representations to the Labour Bureau, but were informed that the Unemployment Committee had drawn up certain rules. When two of the deputation tried to make addresses on the premises of the Defence Department, the police stepped in, and pulled the speakers down. A few warpi words were Exchanged, hut nothing untoward occurred.

DEPUTATION TO HEALTH MINISTER. RATIONS TO BE PARTLY STOPPED. WELLINGTON Dee. 5. “This means actual starvation, not semi-starvation, for hundreds of l'amiilies in Wellington,” declared Mr P. Fraser, M.P., when leading a deputation of Labour M’sP. to the Health Minister, Mr Young, this morning, about the decision of the Wellington Hospital Board to reduce the food rations to the unemployed relief workers to full rations in the off week and half rations in the following week, and no rations during the two remaining weeks iu each month.

1 The matter of house rents came under review also, and the .Minister expressed surprise at the high rents that landlords were demanding for houses of a poor type, into which many families were reported to he crowding in order to live more cheaply. Sympathy was not enough, the Minister said and he promised to help.

In regal’d to the Hospital Board’s position, the Minister said that it would he entitled to consideration under the recent legislation providing for ,075,000 to bo allocated to Boards. The Minister promised to consult his colleagues, and get into touch immediately with the Hospital authorities to see what measures could he taken for relief. He would do his best to co-operate with those in the city who were, working to relieve the distress, and nothing would be wanting on'his part to assist in helping the poor.