RELIEF SUBSIDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 7

RELIEF SUBSIDY

“COMPLICATED BUSINESS” HOSPITAL’S COMPLAINT “This business of getting a subsidy seems very complicated,” complained Mr. W. K. at yesterday’s meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board when the question of unemployment relief came before the board. JN its report the relief committee recommended that the board should urge the Mayor of Auckland to take immediate steps to raise the necessary £25,000 so that the Government’s offer of a subsidy could be made available during the winter. “It is regrettable that the board should still be discussing the formalities to be adopted to get the subsidy when the need for it is so urgent,” said Mr. M. J. Savage. He did not think that some of the people in authority fully understood the gravity of the position. Mr. J. Rowe asked what the other cities, which had received a grant, had done with it. Why could not Auckland do the same? Mr. W. C. Wood said they had all thought it was a straight-out offer of a pound for pound subsidy, and he could not understand how Sir Joseph Ward reconciled his statement to them and his statement to the Mayor I of Auckland.

“As a local body member, I do not look on this system as a cure for unemployment,” said Mr. E. TI. Potter. He advocated reproductive relief works and considered that this £25,000 Avas merely a drop in the bucket. It did not do much good because sufficient valuable Avork could not he found for the men to do. A member suggested that pressure should be brought to bear on the Prime Minister to persuade him to Avithdraw the conditions. Mr. Howitt said that the only real cure for unemployment, Avhich would, at the same time protect the ratepayers, Avas a system of unemployment insurance. The relief committee’s recommendation Avas carried. Mr. S. J. Harbutt asked that the board should have a return prepared of the places of birth of men who receded relief. He thought it possible that, men were being attracted to Auckland by the relief works instituted by the City Council and the Auckland Hospital Board. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, suggested further that a return of unemployment should be got from other centres and both proposals were carried.