CHARITABLE RELIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3958, 20 June 1929, Page 3

CHARITABLE RELIEF.

HOSPITAL BOARD DISCUSSION. RATIONING PROPOSAL SUBMITTED. “Due to the increased allowances made to those in indigent circumstances, the expenditure on charitable aid relief this year will probably be slightly greater,” stated Mr. J. K .Hornblow, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, at the monthly meeting held oh Monday afternoon, when rationing proposals were adopted. The chairman of the social welfare committee, Mir. J. A. Nash, M.P., reported that it had resolved that the committee considered some improvement in 'the present arrangement was necessary, and it was recommended that the board call tenders for charitable aid rations. In the event of the lowest tender being such that it would mean a substantial increase in the charitable aid expenditure for the year, the committee desired to have the opportunity of reconsidering the scale with a view to a possible reduction in the ration quantities. The managing-secretary (Mr. A. J. Phillipps), in submitting a rationing proposal, stated that the present system of issuing charitable aid supplies had shown itself to be unsatisfactory, and he brought forward a tentative scheme. Both reports were adopted. “Charitable aid expenditure has been classified," the chairman stated, “as near as possible under the contributing districts in the board’s area as follows: —Palmerston N. £2516 Us lOd, Feilding £234 Is Bd, Foxton £353 12s 6d, Levin £204 9s 4d, Shannon £267 19s 4d, Otaki £149 9s 3d, Rongoten £1 15s, Kiwitea £7l 4s Sd, Oroua, £92 14s 2d, Pohangina nil, Ivaiiranga £3l 4s, Horowhenua. nil. Total, £3923 Is 9d.

“Of course, in dealing with these figures,” he added, “it must be pointed out that practically all the country residents who apply for charitable aid come in to the town lo seek work before they do so. The figures, however, are illuminating despite this fact. As regards charitable aid expenditure in this district, compared wth other districts of the same size, the following are culled from the latest, published figures for the period ending March 31, 1929:

Pop. Ex. Palmerston N. 54,935 £3503 Wanganui 55,235 £6256 Hawke’s Bay 43,590 £3536 New Plymouth 35,080 £3668 “Every care has been exercised in the administration of charitable aid relief, and a great deal of the economy effected is due to the careful expenditure by the board’s officer (Mr. F. Ais'her). The figures are Worth putting on record. As regards the number of cases assisted in the hospital districts mentioned, the figures are as follow: — Palmerston North 563, Wanganui 410, Hawke’s Bav 267 and New Plymouth 122.”