RELIEF RATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1932, Page 5

RELIEF RATIONS

POINT UNSETTLED

RESPONSIBILITY FOR B2 MEN

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, June 30.

Mr Cast.e, Chairman of the We.l.ngton Hospital Board, said, in regard to tile Unemployment Board’s pronouncement, that the Question .appeared to have been settled as fa r as the Unemployment Board is concerned, but whether the proposals would he acceptah.e to the Hospital Boards’ Association remained to be seem. So far its WdHington was concerned, the Board was. in touch with the. Unemployment Board with reference to B2 men. It was considered that the Unemployment Board should accept responsibility for those men, but the point was not yet sett’ed. He mentioned that the Wellington Board has appointed a Medical Board to examine all those relief workers who claimed they were unfit to go to camps About one-third had already been examined, and o.uite a number had been found fit. The examination of the re-' ma-inin-g was being proceeded with, The men found fit were passed over to the Unemployment Board, which he*, cep tod the repo, t of the Hospital .Board’s doctors..

The granting of relief to able-bodied workless men had pract'oaMy ceased in Wellington, he said. The position was that where the Government had completed its machinery for providing complete relief, the issue of rations' Uriel been stopped. Until the four weeks’ system was adopted at Upper Hutt, it might be necessary to supplement the men’s wages, but elsewhere* the issue of rations would eompleteCy cease as from to-morrow.

INTERVENTION OF PREMIER

SUGGESTED BY MR. WALLACE.

AUCKLAND, Juno 29.

Mr W. Wallace, the President of the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand suggests intervention by the Prime Minister to induce the Unemployment Board to -accept its responsibility. The Boards have taken action to bring tli-e dispute with the Unemployment Board to a'head by discontinuing as from to-morrow, the practice of assisting any employable Avorkless man.

Mr Wallace said that many men had indicated to him that'the local body in whose area they lived was willing to give t-hbrn 'work,’ but' 7 they had been advised they were a charge on the Hospital Board. The Board had provided ' no funds in such cases, under instructions originally received from the Gov- I ernmeni. The men receiving assistance from the Board, had been -notified by officers of the. Relief DeparU ni-Mit. no further assistance would be available after to-morrow, The attitude of the Unemployment Board was one of passive resistance,, and as long as Hospital Boards carry on, they would bo allowed by the Unemployment Board to do so. Auckland Hospital Board is at its wits end to frame its ordinary estimates so as not to place an undue burden on the ratepayers. CO-OPERATION BETWEEN BOARDS STATEMENT BY MR. BAILEY. CHRISTCHURCH, June 30. * R-enlying to a statement made yesterday by the Secretary of the Hospital Board here, condemning the Unemployment Board administration of the rations scheme. Air R. T. Bailev, Head of the Christchurch Branch of the labour Department, denies that the Unemployment Board has neglected to seek advice from the Hospital Boards. He states that his officers here have sought, and obtained, valuable advice’ from the officers of the Hospital Board. “It is only natural that the Unemnloyment Board’s methods will "be criticised when the people who have been receiving rations from the- Hbspital Board are refused by the Depart-- 1 J ment,” says Air Bailey. “A few cases may be of interest to Hospital Board members, and to those who are payingthe unemployment tax. All of these cases had been receiving rations from the Hospital Board. They are a- follows : —(1) Total income £7 5s 4d weekly. (2) Income £4 5s 4d weekly. (3) Income £4 10s weekly. (4) Income £4 11s weekly. (5) Income' £4 9s weekly. (6) Income £4 5s wpelclv. (7) Income £7 18s 2d weekly. (8) Income £4 8s weekly. “These people,” said Air Bailev, “had all- received assistance from the Hospital Board, hut thv had been turned down under the Unemployment Board’s scheme.” A SUBSIDY FOR, LANDLORDS? TO EASE THE BURDEN. WELLINGTON, June f/>. A Government subsidy paid direct to landlords, in order to lift part of the rent burden from the shoulders of married relief workers, will bo advocated bv a denutation to Urn Act'ug Afinis+or of Employment (Air Hamilton). The deputation '"'ill revr sent the relief workers’ set lion of the Labour movement supported by the Property Owners’ Association. Speaking at a meeting nf re.nrrsoiifativcs of both bodies. Mr Will Appleton said the idea of Air Coates putting cottages all over t-hq, , country, when thousands of Tiopses, were empty in thei cities was absurd-. It was absolute squander of pubiio I

money. In a- year or two, it \\ ould be possible to buy these cottages for £lO or £l2 a piece. The Government should subsidise landlords -or use the existing facilities. The present position of landlords could not go on. Ho knew a, wealthy man, on paper, who "was being '.threatened with being turned out of his own house. Because lie could not collect his rents, he could not pay his mortgagee. “There is no doubt in my mind,” said Air Appleton, “before we know where we are, the wage taS will be up to 2s in the pound.”