EPIDEMIC RELIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1927, 16 January 1919, Page 2

EPIDEMIC RELIEF.

WIDOWS, WIDOWERS AND CHILDREN. STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. A number of inquiries had been made reeenlly as to what is being done in regard to the relief of eases of dislress due to the epidemic. On the matter being referred to Sir James Allen, the aeling-l’rime .Minister, yesterday, he staled that the present arrangement with x’egard to ehildren orphaned by’ the epidemic is that they are the concern of the Hun. J. A. Hamm (.Minister for Education), whose department haall the machinery for dealing with such cases in full working order. With regard to widows and widows ers and their children, the temporary expedient had been adopted of / utilising the machinery of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, The Minister for Public Health (the Hon. 0. W. Russell) had issued a circular to the Hospital Boards throughout the Dominion, stating that in regard to (he children of widows and widowers assistance: might he given up to the extent of 10s (id per child per week; (he widowers might he assisted up to the amount of 25s per week to enable (hem to employ women to look after their ehildren; and that widows who ' were in need were to make (heir applications for help to the Hospital • and Charitable Aid Boards. This arrangement was temporary only, and the Minister for Public’Health was being communicated with oft (he matter. In short, said Sir James Allen, in the case of widows, widowers, and their children, application should ho made to (he Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and in the case of orphans, to tint Education Board. The Government will refund to the Hospital Boards any such relief expenditure up to the amount of lO.s (id per week per child, and also up to 25s per for women employed to look the children of widowers. The pital and Charitable Aid Boards the only machinery available at present time to deal with such.^. cases.