THE WEEKLY CALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 4

THE WEEKLY CALL.

APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE. AN AFTERNOON WITH THE BENEVOLENT.. TRUSTEES. Tho Wellington Benevolent Trustees had before them at their meeting yesterday afternoon. quite-a diversity of applications for relief, ono person asking for nothing more or less- than a trip to England. ' Tho first applicant to come forward and state his case was an old man. Ho was out of work and ho desired permission to enter the Homo temporarily. Tho Chairman (Mr. D. Robertson): You'vo no wish to be there permanently? The Applicant: Oh, no. I have no intention of doing that. ' The Chairman: All right, then; until you can pull yourself up. A young lady, half in tears, came to plead her cause and hov mother's. Her father had failed to provide adequato' support. For a long period ho gave tlieni nothing, and last week ho produced "a pound. Sho had made inquiries into his finances, and ascertained; from a letter which she had received, that during the last threo months ho had earned ,-£36 from two employers, and something—she did-noticnow how milch —from two others. The Chairman advised tho girl to keep tho letter, as it would he useful in Court. The father would bo mado to pay, pay or go to gaol, whichevor ho liked. Temporary assistance was granted. , Not a Lover of Work or Soap. A! small-built and not altogether rc'spcct-able-lookiug eldprly nian was next oil tho list. Ho stated that ho \vas 08 years of ago, and had been a ship's steward. Under cross-examination it !was' dragged out of him that he had previously mado an, application for admission to tho Homo-, this being tho second, and was refused. Silica then lie' hacl been doing odd jobs and had slept out at night. It appeared that tho man-had been sent to tho Salvation Army with an order from tho Trustees, but they ,rejected him. as he would .not keep: himself-clean. - Tho'applicant I '.said.; that there were not many conveniences for keeping" clean, and tho Army people made a bother when ho wanted a. little hot water. , , . . The Chairman:. You'want us to keep you because you won't work, I toll you,wo don't do that; Yon are only 58, and you should bo able to keep yourself, and do some work. , Tho applicant hero stated that ho would not,work -for nothing.! Ho had been doing some hard work and did long hours, but in return ho received nothing beyond his food. . Tho Chairman.: Yes, but wo are not going to keep you-for nothing. You will liave to work for'your living. Have you '-anyone belonging to you hero? . . - Tho Apjilicarit: No. A fortnight's stay in tho institution was' granted ":on - coriditioii that the. rules wero complied w;ith. . • The Trustees doubted the. bona fides of an old Irishman, who said lie had como up from Dunedin. He had "applied unsuccessfully for an old-ago pension. Ho'possossed tho 'sum of £3; ". , Tho, secretary (Mr. A. H; Truebridgo) remarked that he had advised the capitalist to tho extent of £3 to return whence ho camo. With, this rccommondation'the man departed. Wanted to Return Home. . 7 . . Tho .'next 'person..to stato his case was-a pale-faced but !ycry, neatly-attired young man of 27,' who stated that 'ho ,was an electric wireman, which profession -ho followed: in Englaiid.-:/ He ;had-had. threo or four odd jobs, but trade was not so brisk as ho had been led to beliofe. It was, in fact, overrun; there wero.-too many at it. ''His'old situation was open if ho could return, and ho wished to borrow the pneo of the, trip, £17; which 110 would certainly repay. \ Don't Lie Down to It. The Chairman: I don't' think that 1 - you have come, to the right shop.' This is a 'graiid,c«untry:for a man with "go" in him, but don't lib down like you do. : , 1 ' ;-'''You arp, mistaken,- sir," said tho young man. • . !." !'-, ■ !i-a' ; Y. . , \. , v \ Tho Chairman:, No. .I've, been through the mill, and hayo had a good-deal of exporicnce.', You can got work' if you try, but it may, bo hard to get a wire, work job. "tyakon up from' that spirit. I don't know-; another country whore, you can got work easier .than New Zealand, and . better wages; too. ',-Tho idea of asking lis to pay your passago is ridiculous. ■ / Make up : .your mind to tako tho first job tliat offers, and have .a try .at it.: Nobody will say, anything to you if they seo you aro at work. . , ~; , Mr. A. C. Pcarce: You will go back a failure. Many of our successful'men caino here, with nothing. - t : ■ Thq Chairman: If you look for work -I guarahteo you w-ill; find it, before, the week i's out. We .will grant you temporary ancc if you like, and if you want' a little food we will give } T ou that. . - -"I didn't come here:to bo taunted," said .the .applicant,, as ho left tho'room! : Ho is a ,disgrace to-.-England -as a nation,^'l .commented a member.