Reports Of Children Begging For Food

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31753, 9 August 1968, Page 20

Reports Of Children Begging For Food

(New Zealand Press Association)

WANGANUI, August 8.

Children have been discovered begging for food or sleeping on the floor in Wanganui.

The secretary of the Wanganui St Vincent de Paul Society (Mr M. J. Hansen) said the parents of children involved were unemployed. During the last few months the society had supplied beds for 13 children who had been sleeping on the floor. Some had been sleeping on sacks. The children are now sleeping on discarded hospital beds. “This situation seems unbelievable, but I’m afraid it is true,” Mr Hansen said. “Most people just don’t know how bad the situation is. “We have also been told of several instances where children have been begging food from neighbours," he said. “The children have been asking for the basic foods, not luxury items—things like cereals, milk, butter, and bread.” Society members have supplied the parents of the children with grocery orders. “There are also adults

desperately in need of help, but because we suffer from lack of funds we have to concentrate on the children,” Mr Hansen said.

“We are trying to ensure that these children are looked after so they have a decent chance for the future.”