VIENNA'S BEGGARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 10

VIENNA'S BEGGARS.

A MONSTER ROUND-UP. ARREST OF 10,000. VIENNA. During the past year the Austrian police have conducted a successful campaign against the professional beggar* in Vienna. In 10 months the police carried out 150 raids on professional beggars in the inner city,, and 700 raids in the whole territory of the city. As a result 10,000 beggars were detained, of whom 8000 turned out to be professionals. , Hiom who could prove themselves destitute were handed ever to the welfare institutions of the Vienna municipality. Some of the others were fined, some expelled from Vienna, while others were sent to the workhouse of the municipality. In addition to the existing workhouse, a large camp for beggars was also established, where 500 of them were accommodated. This is only the beginning, and before long the camp will be enlarged. The chief effort of the police at present is directed against the "Aufpaaeer" —a kind of spy employed by the beggars' "trade union." The professionals are organised in a kind of trade union which allots important and lucrative corners to various beggars, in return for which the beggars have to pay fees of various and progressive rates to the union. The union also employs spies whose duty it is id keep watch on the movement:. of the police and to inform the beggars if a raid is coming.