XN000022-1972-03-01 — Page 19

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Wednesday, arch 1, 1972

The second qualification was that, to guard against abuse and malpractice,

public assistance should be carefully controlled and administered.

"To achieve this, we have had the benefit of the services of an officer

experienced in public assistunce from the British Civil Service;

and this

Council has approved substantial increases in the establishment of the Public

Assistance Division of the Social kelfare Department.

·

"This mans also that u can be reason bly sure that the scheme is

helping those who are least able to support themselves and, in particular, the

elderly, the widowed, the sick and the disabled; and that it is not, as a result

of inadequate administration, affecting the incentive to work and to be self-

supporting."

Hr. Haddon-Cave said that payments in public assistance in 1971-72

were likely to be $12 million.

To the catinate of $17 million for 1972-73 would have to be added sore

$13 million in respect of the present 14,000 to 15,000 cases if Finance Committee

endorsed the new rates of assistance and other refinements now proposed.

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