ECONOMIC POVERTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 13

ECONOMIC POVERTY.

a KILLING HOME LIFE."

ADDRESS BY REV. MR. SCRIMGEOUR

The advantages of the Businessmen's Relief Association were stressed by Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, Methodist Missioned, in an address to members of the Karangahapo Road Businessmen's Association yesterday. "The poor you have always with you, but there are two distinct kinds of poverty," said Mr. Scrimgeour. There were people who could never avail themselves of opportunities, and they must always be a charge on the community. On the other hand, there was what he termed "economic poverty." The latter was . comparatively, new. to the country, and relief organisations did not know really how serious it was. It paralysed pride, stultified ambition, and, woret of all, it killed home life. Nothing was more tragic than the' gradual slipping away of the home. It was the first incentive to immorality. .

The community was never meant to be burdened with economic poverty, added Mr. Scrimgeour, and for the best scheme of relief, it was essential that the two types were defined. Mr. Scrimgeour went on to say that the Businessmen's • Relief Association aimed at this object. He outlined its functions, and said it was becoming popular among those houses in town which before had been unable to distinguish between the genuine and fraudulent cases, of destitution. A pleasing feature was tha-t it weeded out a great number of professional cadgers. To save the sum o* 5/ given to the latter type, and to transfer it to those whose need was truly genuine, was the object of the association, and, once attained, would eliminate any futile generosity and co-ordinate all charitable efforts .under the head, whereby it could do the most. good.