GIFTS OF OLD CLOTHES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 6

GIFTS OF OLD CLOTHES

COMPLAINT BY MR FORBES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 28. The contention that while there were still many people in New Zealand who would be glad of gifts of old clothes, so much criticism had been made of this form of charity by Government members that the public was disinclined either to give or to receive them was made by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui) during the ilnancial debate in the House of Representatives torday. "Men will not cast a stigma on themselves by offering clothes," he said. Mr Forbes said that he had vivid recollections of Ministers making speeches in Christchurch criticising tue practice of giving away clothes. Though there were many who were wming to give away clothes that were good, the criticism had placed such a stigma on both giving and receiving clothes that few were willing to risk doing either. Ministers had frequently talked in this strain. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage): Who said anything like that? Mr Forbes: The Prime Minister has said it* among others. Mr Savage: I have never said that in my life. Mr Forbes: That is the usual contribution from,,the Prime Minister.