UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 265, 2 July 1932, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

(Press. Assn.—

OFFICIAL STATEMENT HOSPITAL BOARDS HAVE NO RESPONSlBILITY FOR AID LEFT TO DISCRETION

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

NAPIER, Friday. Interviewed with relation to the responsibilities of hospital boards jn eonnection with relief for registered unemployed, Mr. J. S. Jessep, dejjiityxhairman of the Unemployment Board who was on his way through Wairoa, stated to-nigjit, that legally Ixospital boards had no reshonsijxility a.t any time to able bodied xinemployed men. In Wellington and Auckland, where sxpenditure had been very large, "a statement had been made recently iii connection with the definition of responsihility. As a . matter of fact, said Mr. Jessep, with the exceptxoii xf soxxxe slight difference of opinioii, xs to what was a nxedically unfit man, ffiere could he no question of resp'oixsibility by the hospital boards. Definitely unemployed ahle-hodied axen were not a charge on hospital L-oards uixless they assumed the responsibility. By this, he did not for x moment mean to assert that assis;ance rendered by hospital boards- was aot in some cases necessary, but it xpp'eared to him that so long as hospital boards had a (lirect responsibility to rate-payers, and could' levy Dn all local bodies for such- expendiLure as they chose to make, the mea-f-ure of relief they extended to-any-one xixust be entirely at their disr.retion and according to the compbsi- . tion of tlxe various hospital boards. On the rnain question as to the responsibility of hospital boards in connection with able-bodied unemployed men, there was not, nox* had ever heen, any questiqn of legal responsihility. They could only administer to the fullest exteixt the funds provided f'or ;he relief of the unemployed and adixxinister these funds as far as they were able, in a manner calculated to xxeet the necessities of the unemployed caused through the depression," and taking into full account the conditioxxs existing in New Zealand ahd the possibility of the unemployed being able or unable to supplement the relief allowed hy obtaining other work, and other necessaries of life in. :heir neighhourhoods.