RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17972, 18 March 1930, Page 8

RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

CENTRAL ORGANISATION

PUBLIC MEETING CALLED

WELFARE LEAGUE ACKNOWLEDGED

A public meeting called by the president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce last night to consider the setting up of some central office for the administration of relief during the coming winter, decided to give its support to the Social Welfare League, a body already organised for this purpose and which has been functioning for some months.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, presided and explained the systems of relief at present in force in Hamilton—the Mayor’s fund, the Charitable Aid Board, and the Hospital Sunshine League. It was considered by some, he said, that there was an overlapping, and there seemed no doubt that certain people made a profession of living on charitable relief, tt was thought, therefore, that a central office to which applicants for relief could be referred would put an end lo “trading” and would confine charity to necessitous cases.

Mr D. Seymour, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber was desirous of acting in harmony with any existing organisations for the relief of distress, but considered it desirable there should he a central office to which all applicants for relief could be referred, lie had approached Hie Salvation Army to see if that body, which had Dominion-wide ramifications, would undertake the work. By utilising this organisation it should be possible to cheek up stories told by applicants and any funds doubtless would lie efficiently administered. The Cham-ber-did not desire to encroach on the work which may have been undertaken by any existing organisation in the town, ils desire was to co-oper-ate to Ihe one end, • Mr E. G. Johnson, secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board, explained the system of relief adopted by his hoard, and considered any system of relief should be devoted entirely to parmanent residents of the town, leaving the Hospital Board to attend to casual applicants. Canvass for Funds. Mr A. E. Manning, a member of the committee of the Social Welfare League, said Mr Seymour need not be alarmed that the league would be hurt by anything the Chamber was doing. Nothing had been definitely undertaken by ihe League in the way of appointing a relief officer. Before anything at all was clone, however, various public organisations of ihe town were invited to send representatives to a meeting to discuss the setting up of some relief organisation and some of these bodies, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Borough Council and the Rotary Club, whom one might reasonably have expected to be represented, were not so. The League was formed to attend to relief of distress in the town and to give advice and assistance to young people and others who came before the courts ami who required help and advice. Willi ibis aim in view it was thought necessary to have an officer in control. The League was formed, hut it had not sought the limelight through the medium of public meetings. The speaker paid a tribute to the tremendous amount of work which the secretary of the League, Rev. Lawrence Rogers, had already done. He mentioned also that a committee of two had been set up to canvass llie business men of the town and said this committee had not met with a single rebuff. All the business men approached had undertaken to give the League practical support, not merely for one but for three years, as it was realised that once an organisation was set up it would be idle lo scrap it after merely one year's operations. One business man went so far as to offer £25, which the League had, however, refused to accept, believing that in view of the response so large a donation would not be required. The League had arranged with a well-known man of considerable organising ability in the town to organise the canvass for funds, which would not take place .until the closing of the obstetrical fund list. Mr Manning said he was present that night representing the Patriotic Society, but lie felt sure the Social Welfare League would be only too pleased to hand over its organisation, so far as it had progressed, to the Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor. He did think, he added, that any such fund should be organised by the leading business men of the town and not left to the clergy, who already had too many calls on their time.

Work of League Commended. Mr W. L, Waddel, town clerk, thought it a mistake to advertise the work of relief organisations, as such advertisement tended to attract professional cadgers from all parts of the country. He also suggested that by handing over relief funds to the Charitable Aid Board the money would go twice as far by reason of the Government subsidy it would carry. Dr. F. D. Pinfold said it seemed that the meeting had been called under a misapprehension and that the Chamber of Commerce apparently did not realise that a relief organisation already existed. Mr Seymour commended the work of the League, which he thought had been hiding its light under a bushel. So much useful work apparently having been done, he thought it only gracious that tiie League should be asked to carry on. He moved, therefore, “That this meeting considers it desirable that the Welfare League should continue with the programme as outlined.” The motion was carried unanimously, A motion of thanks to Brigadier Cottrell, of the Auckland executive of the Salvation Army, for his attendance with members of his staff, was carried amidst applause, both Mr Fow and Mr Manning paying tributes to the great work which the Army is accomplishing.