EFFECTS OF STRIKE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 149, 30 July 1914, Page 3

EFFECTS OF STRIKE.

f ;■ ■ ■ Ovations ill Auckland. Press Association. * AUCKLAND, Jujy 29. "The men who were responsible for the strike and who called unionists away from their work appear to be still in good circumstances, and well able to fight the battle of life. There are, however, a number of unfortunate fellows who were called out on strike in November and who have been out of permanent employment ever since, and whose families have been for some time jjractically in *a state of destitution. They did not want to cease work, but they were afraid to disobey orders, and now they are paying all the penalty. It seems most unfair."' This statement was made by Sister Esther, a well known worker among the Auckland poor. When asked whether the results of the recent strike were apparent among the people with whom she came into contact she said that there was not only a greater amount of extreme poverty in Auckland this year, but the loss of employment suffered by many men in consequence of the ill-advised strike had contributed much to this additional distress. "The city is in a dreadful state," continued Sister Esther, "and the applications which are being received for. aid are taxing the re : • sources of our individual workers and^ ~ our organisations to the utmost. Yesr . terday twenty-seven persons "cstJleii here seeking assistance, and eVery one represented a case of resfl distress. Fortunately, we are better provided than usual with money furniture, and so on, and we meet these demands upon us." Large quantities of clothes are sent 1 to the sister for distribution, and on one morning each week she has a constant stream of callers, mostly poorlyclad women and children, who are fitted out with warm garments and boots. "Poor unfortunate women often come to me suffering from coughs,'' she said, "aud I find that their boots are without soles. They might as well be barefooted, but they go about wearing uppers for the sake of appearances. You cannot imagine how jealously these poor things hide their poverty. It has been said that there are few evidences of poverty in the streets. There would be enough to startle' most people if it were not for the clothes we hand out. The little children suffer a great deal in this cold weather. The other day a bright little boy came to that window. ' Sister Esther,' he said, 1 can you give me a shirt? *1 haven't got any.' I brought him in. He was wearing a woman's blouse with the sleeves cut out, and a pair of ragged trousers with a brace across his bare shoulders.'' The relieving officer for the Auckland. Charitable Aid Board, Mr Herbert Jones, was also of the opinion that the strike had aggravated the distress in "\;he city this winter. Making a rough approximation, he said that the applications for relief had increased br about 25 per cent, as compared with last year. One day recently 130 persons had called at the Board's offices to obtain or apply for assistance, and the majority of those people represented families.