FAMILIES STARVE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1932, Page 5

FAMILIES STARVE

300 AT HUNTLY AID BOARD REVIEWS POSITION. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) HAMILTON, April 21. Stating that .the Government, had not hunuled the position dip.omatieulIv, and that blame was attachable to them, or the Government officials, regarding the relief workers’ s'.mke at nuntly, Mr G. Smith, of the Hamilton Hospital Board, to-day appealed for immediate food .supplies. Mr Smith hinted that there are 300 families now starving in 'Huntly. “This is a most extraordinary position,” said the Chairman, Mr J. JIlly,burn. “The unemployed have been ottered work, and they refuse it. Work that they object to has been waived. Other v/ork is offering. I hope that this trouble of the unemployed organising and directly putting obstarh m 'the way of many men anxious to work will not be permanent. It seems to me to be tending towards a dole, wl’iich they say they are entitled 'to. If we grant this amount, it looks as though we are in favour of a strike. By law, we, as a Charitable Aid Board, nin.v. provide food for those in want. It is difficult to know what is ;bcst to do. I feel that we should assi.it the women and children, We should, at the same time, appeal to the unemployed “o tike up the work that is offering.” Mr H, W. Wilson, of Bagtnn, s-ul that he was opposed to a .strike and was not in favour of granting strikers one penny. The position regarding the wives and families was different. The Board decided to make a grant of £BS for food, with an intimation that it could grant no further help, and appeal for men to accept any further work offering.