“PERMANENT PAUPERS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 9

“PERMANENT PAUPERS”

DANGER OF UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFER Press Association PALMERSTON N., To-day "It is an absolute nightmare to me, this question of unemployment relief,” said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Boards’ Conference, this morning, during a discussion on unemployment. "The Hospital Boards’ Conference tax is an inequitable and iniquitous one on the local community, which is being heavily penalised,” he added. "The worst feature is that we are creating a system of permanent paupers. The position is alarming, and getting worse. Hospital boards should be recouped in full by the Government.’ The discussion arose from a remit from Taranaki that relief caused by unemployment be deleted from the functions of hospital boards, and that the executive be deputed to furnish a working scheme. An amendment, moved by a Palmerston North delegate, that in the opinion of the conference the total cost of granting relief to unemployed should be borne by the Government from the Consolidated Fund, and that the executive make representations to the Government, was carried. The original remit was rejected. The next conference will be h* Id at Timaru in 1931. The conference approved the principle of better facilities, and that inducements be provided for the anmi.l medical examination of men and women over 40 years of age.