DISTRESSING CASES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 15

DISTRESSING CASES.

HOMES OF THE POOR AND NEEDY. An impressive record of her personal investigation of somo of the more serious cases of distress has been made by Miss Ruth E. Niblock, general secretary of the All Nations Fair Committee, and of the Street Appeal. In. an interview with The Press yesterday, Miss Niblock quoted some of these cases, emphasising the necessity for the people of Christchurch to make a special effort on Friday to assist these unfortunates. "There is no doubt," she said, "that many ugly tragedies have been prevented through the kindly assistance of social workers and it is no exaggeration to state that thera are many dying for lack of food and propOr nourishment, especially young women and little children. As an instance of this, a case was very recently reported to the City Council, where a person rang up to say that a child of three years, belonging to hef neighbour, was living on carrots, as this was all they were able to obtain. The woman questioned the child, and as a result, visited the homo and there found the mother with throo young children, two of whom had had nothing- to eat other than a few ( carrots for nearly two days. The littlo mother was practically out of her mind with worry—in fact she was demented with the hopelessness of it all—and there is no doubt that had the case not been taken in hand, something very dreadful would have happened. Within a few minutos of receiving this message a visitor was on her way to tho woman's home, and that night they wore left with food to last them for several days. The woman was put into touch with one of the relief depots and has been looked after ever since.

Five Young Children. "Another instance is the caso of a young woman, about 25 years of age, who has five children to provide for. She has a husband, but he has been in hospital suffering from poritonitip and will not be able to work for another six months. The Hospital Board is giving all the help possible, but this is just a mere 'drop in the bucket' when one considers all the needs of that little family. The youngest child is only two weeks old. There were six children, but one died for lack of nourishment and the necessary care when suffering from rheumatic fever. This woman cannot go out to earn anything. She has her baby to look aftor as well as her sick husband, and there are no relatives to stand by her at this time of stress.

"Here may I say that many of the homes visited, though poor, are clean," continued Miss Niblock. "Yet again, there are many others where the hopelessness of life has caused a mental depression. The minds of those who if they were occupied would have progressed, are deteriorating, and so, accordingly, we go into places that are merely hovels—dirty and untidy. One often hears people say 'they may be poor but water is cheap.' Can one help the mental outlook no matter how cheap water is? What is there for them to keep clean for if their life is just one long begging for all they can gett Put yourself in their place and Beo whether you would rise and wash your face for breakfast that consists of the tea and dinner of the day before.

Reduced to Poverty. "Again, there arc people brought up in the best of circumstances all their lives, well educated and cultured. Wo find them, too, amongst the ruins of human nature that unemployment has caused. Pride still reigns in their hearts. They will not beg and they will not ask help of others. Do you blame them? Would you in the same position ask for help? Imagine having brought up a family and been able to have given them the very best in life and then lining to snatch it from their grasp and watch them, because their father was put out of a job, strive for their very existence. These are the people we must help! "Gradually those who are seeking, to help by personal effort are getting in touch with these poor souls to whom it is galling to liavo to accept charity from anyone. Here is an instance: Thore was a man whose wife was lying in a littlo cot. Thero were five children in this room and a baby six months old, crawling baroly dressed about the* floor. Tho man was sitting despondently in n chair. He had been to relief work for two days as a labourer. Ho holds tho B.A. Degree. Ho sits there because he has no boots to go out in. Some years ago, after having gained his degree at 'the University, he bought a farm, married, was doing quite ■vyell, and was iißed to every comfort. Then came tho slump. Ho could not pay his interest. His farm was sold over his head. That meant giving up everything, and he came into town with the hope of getting work there for the sake of tho family. He rented a house and then ho was served with a notice at the end of the month because he could not pay his rent. As a last recourse this man. had to pocket all his prido for the sake of those he loved, and call to see tho Mayor, in the hope of getting relief work for a day or two. His wife should be in a nursing home, but she lies in that littlo cot because they cannot pay the fees necessary for a nursing home. "Vital, Urgent Need." "A visit has been paid to another house in this City, the picture of cleanliness. A mother with nine children. The husband "has-had throe days' relief work sinco Christmas. Baby No. 10 was born yesterday. The husband wants work. Ho is keen for it. The mother devotos hors6lf to keeping everything in her home, as well as her children, clean, but the larder is empty and the wardrobe holds no change of clothing, Does not she deserve our sympathy and help? ' "And so, you people, whom we are asking to help on Friday 'next, can realise that those organising this appeal havo nothing but the welfare of these people at heart. Be wise and show your knowledge of this distress. Prove it by deeds and not words. Thero is a saying 'that beneath the surface dwells tho soul of man.' Just look below the Burface with regard to these poorer people and your hearts cannot but be touched. If you have not money to give, give what you have, and it will bo well distributed for you. The feelings of the poorer people, who we aro seeking to help, must be considered and that is why things may not be made public as we would like, but anyone questioning these cases is at perfect liberty to have a talk with any of the social workers in connexion with them, and then they will realise for themselves that the truth of unemployment is more vital and more urgent than the general public believe."

RED CROSS SOCIETY. REVIVAL OF ACTIVITY.

Plans for a comprehensive scheme for the relief of distress, which will involve the re-establishment of the Canterbury Red Cross Society sub-centres which did such useful work during the war, and involving tfie mobilisation of