BULLER DISTRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 5

BULLER DISTRESS

CASES OUTLINED j 1

DEPUTATION TO MR COATES. *

(By Press Asspciaticm.J •r **• ~ , ■' - v '* j , .WEBmGXON, June 1. Lute this afternoon Mr H. .E. Hoiland M.P., and Hon. W; Mclntyre,’ M.L.C., interviewedvJVir.iJ- -G. Coates' regarding the Buller unemployed. Mr Holland outlined the position in| the Buller district, .and, said that tho!

problem was of such magnitude than 1 no Hospital Board could possibly cope' with it. He urged that the Goveru-. meut should adequately subsidise the* Hospital Board, or, at the very least, | put the new scheme into operation in 1 its entirety. He asked for immediate * action, as the position-was-fast becom- \ ing unbearable. He also referred to *• the position of the intermittent work- $ ers, and urged better provision to meet their cases. . ,

Mr Holland further stressed tho position of the youths - under -0 years and urged that these be exempted from the payment of. the wages tax. He further urged the exemption of relief workers from the payment of tile unemployment- levy;- ' > The question Of the men with small nmounts in the Savings . Batik, was also raised by Mr Holland,- who ebu* tended that «uch men should not be debarred from relief work.

Hon, Mr Mclntyre stated the financial position of the Buller Hospital Board and stressed the Board’s .inability to provide for the present situation. Hej&sk’ed Mr Coates to put the new scheme into 1 operation in the Buller Hospital district at once. He.quoted the proposals of the Buller County Council tor the development of the Pakihi lands; the continuance of the Collingwood-Karainea road; the opening of a track to Oparara, and to the Fenian Goldfields; the completion of the Tauranga Bay-Okari road; mining development;: protection from river erosion at Charleston, etc. He also stressed the seriousness of the position in the Buller, and said that if the new scheme were put into operation, the Hospital • Board would t-ben be in a position to deal with the ordinary distress eases. YU 1

Both Mr Holland and Mr Mclntyre referred to a telegram from Millerton drawing attention to the fact that' for this stand-down week no Hospital Board sustenance would, be available, and they' asked tor immediate assistance in this connection. Mr Coates promised to furnish a reply to-morrow. , Mi; Holland next -raised the question of the situation at "Blackball, pointing out that, because of the insufficient allocation, every second week there was a stand-down week. He urged an increase in the allocation. Mir Coates promised Immediate at* toution to the matter.