FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 6

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

A CRUEL WINTER EMPTY CUPBOARDS AND NO WORK DISTRESSING CASES Probably more people are longing for the warm spring days to come than has been the case in Wellington for very many years past. Practically tho whole of the winter has been one of trade, import, and industrial depression, causing a great shortening of hands, whilst in the country the hard-hit farmer has had perforce to straggle along with as little help as possible. Budding activity, owing to its heavy cost, has been almost at a standstill, a combination of causes that has made for almost unprecedented unemployment. One of the unemployed stated yesterday that it had been the cruellest winter for thirty years. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that there have been hungry people in the Empire City during tho past two months. Even industrious, hard-working men, who h'ad put by something for a rainy day, had found the rain too long continued, and were now up against it. In too ease of those with a skilled trade at their disposal tho position was not so had. A Dominion reporter ascertained on inquiry that a preponderance of distress was in those! families who have been dependent on the earnings of waterside workers. In their case tho work had become less as the year advanced owing to the falling off in imports. With a decided slump registered in the quantity of goods from overseas the work of transhipment fell away, and the watorsider had come to understand that tho lean years had succeeded toe fat ones. About two months ago toe Mayor sent out an “5.0.5.” to toe public for money to provide work for the workless, and also for foodstuffs for the hungry. There was a fair response, and it jiau kept up pretty well.

In ths cellar. Councillor Annie McVicar, who, with Mrs. Waters, has been in charge of the distribution of food which takes place three times a week in the cellar of the Town Hall, was seen by a Dominion reporter yesterday as to too progress of toe work. “There is no falling off in the number of people coming for food,” said Councillor McVicar. “Indeed, there seem to be more each day. . . . The people do not know that there are fellow-creatures pretty well starving in some of our back streets. . . We know when toe cases are genuine—we look after that as well as we are able.”

How do you know that you are not double banking with toe Social Welfare Commit toe? “Wo examine their lists to make sure that the people are not getting supplies from both. Then they run the risk of being found out, and getting cut out altogether. Mr. —; —, all these people aro ours” . (indicating tho long double queue waiting in the cellar corridor). Do the same people come and come Again ? • ■ “Oh. yes. What are the poor people to do? If there were only a little work for the men. this sort of thing would soon, disappear. . . . The most distressing thing is too number of cases we have in which there are expedtant mothers conlcerned. . 'Fancy women in that condition being kept short of food. Yet such is tho case. Here are some of the reports from toe sub-committee. You can see for yourself what sort of cases we have to deal with.” Sub-Committee Reports.

' These reports were those in which special representations had been, made to the sub-committee set up by the Mayor, under the chairmanship cf Councillor L. McKenzie. “The first case of distress I would like to report is that of Mrs. , of , Mr. is out of work, and they have no money. There is one little child, and Mrs. is expecting another shortly. They are unable to make any provision for it.

“Mrs. , of > is in bad health, being in tho first stages of consumption. The husband is out of work, and not able to provide her with the necessary nourishment. There is one child,and the three of them are living in one small room. “Mrs. -7 — of , has three children. One has just recovered from an illness. Her husband is out of work —has only had "a day or two’s work since February. They are very hard up.” “Mr- , of , is out of employment. Six in family.” “Mr. , of , returned soldier, out of employment, with four in family. His wife is in a delicate state of health.” “Mr- , out of employment with six in family. Wife is in delicate health.” “Mr. out of employment, nine in family.” “Mr. , seven in family, and out of work. Wife in delicate health-” “Mr. , out of employment; seven in family. Wife in delicate health.” Food Supplies Distributed. Among the food distributed with a free hand yesterday afternoon were the following lines —meat, . potatoes, cauliflowers, oatmeal, biscuits, cocoa, candles, tea, bread, and cooking .butter. There wan a line of "Glaxo.” but that was being reserved for sick and delicate women and children. Councillor McVicar wished it made clear that! tho ladies depended fully on gifts of food. None of the money donated to the Mayor’s fund was spent on food —that was all reserved to provide work for the unemployed. There were times when she wished thev did have a fund to buy certain foods for people who wore in a bad wny. They could do very well with a lot of jam, sugar, ard tea, and there was always a demand for fresh vegetables,. A line of cauliflowers from Mr. Burge, of Manners Street, had proved most acceptable, and a splendid lot of biscuits from Aulsebrook’s were proving InvaluableCouncillor McVicar said, that there was no great demand for flour, as to cook anything with flour meant a big fire or a demand on the gas stove, and people without money simply could not run into such extravagances.