FOOD DAY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 285, 28 August 1922, Page 6

FOOD DAY

TOWN HALL STORES DEPLETED

THE MAYOR APPEALS FOR FURTHER HELP

“Mr. Mayor, the only things we have left are biscuits. Monday is food day, and we have nothing to give them except these, and the meat,” said Councillor Annie McVicar to His Worship on Saturday morning. “Is that so?” replied the Mayor. “Well, I suppose we will have to buy food. What do you think we aught to get?” “Potatoes, oatmeal, and bread. Those are the things that count most. We still have a little bread coming in, but we can always do with more. So it was decided that these goods should be purchased the first thing this morning so that the people who visit the Town Hall cellar this afternoon may not go away without sometlhing to keep life going. Referring to the existing state of things, the Mayor said that many people still refused to believe that there are those actually in want in Wellington through no fault of their own, but anyone in touch with social work in this city knows pretty well that there are many hungry folk in Wellington, probably more than has ever been the case in the history of the town. These workers are not easily deceived. They know the people, and they know through their experience year in and out the genuineness or otherwise of the claims. There are other cases, too, which have to .be hunted out. People who are too proud in their poverty to ask for 'help, though it is wanted ever so badly. Mr. Wright wants the public to know that the food supplies at the Town Hall are practically exhausted. They have meat enough to last out the present week, and a little bread and biscuits, but otherwise the cupboard was swept bare on Saturday. Though several citizens have given liberally during the past month, he is constrained to make a further appeal, and would therefore be glad if those who feel they can afford it would come forward with offers in order to enable them to keep tho good work going for at least the next four weeks. By that time he hoped that things would so improveto warrant the work being stopped. The money which has been subsenbed to the fund for providing work for the unemployed is nearly exhausted, and it is desired that the fund should be so augmented as to enable them to keep the men employed for another month. These mon are doing good work of permanent benefit to the city, and a few more thousands would enable, the City Council to continue the relief works for a few weeks longer. Any sums so subscribed will be acknowledged.