CHRISTMAS CHEER

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 22

CHRISTMAS CHEER

Smith Family Preparing

WORK IN THE PAST More funds will be required if the Smith Family is to maintain its social services to their full extent. This fact was revealed at a meeting of directors held this week, when the finances of the Family were discussed. The Smith Family is now actively preparing for its annual Christmas cheer campaign. This announcement serves to focus the attention on one of the most valuable social service organisations in the Dominion, an organisation which, by reason of the fact that it functions anonymously, has attracted to it as active “Smiths” many of the Dominion’s leading citizens, including the heads of the Government. To maintain the morale of those "up against it” is the principal mission of the Smith Family, and this important objective Is never lost sight, of when assistance is being given to those in distress. The directors of the organisation believe that It is more important to prevent people from getting “down and out” than to provide assistance for them when they have lost everything—including hope—and, accordingly, no efforts are spared to assist people to keep their homes together and maintain their morale during their time of trial. Ap a result of this policy, it is claimed that hundreds of homes are in existence to-day which would almost certainly have been broken up, making their occupants dependants upon the beneficence or charity of relatives. In many cases also men have been assisted to create an occupation for themselves, instead of being forced on to relief work, and it is claimed that the Family’s activities in this direction have relieved the unemployment funds of probably several thousands of pounds annually. The organisation does not confine its activities to assisting only those who are not yet “down and out,” and some scores of families are assisted each month in many and varied ways. Anonymous Work. The Smith Family works anonymously, and in many cases assistance is given to people who have no means of knowing just where the necessary assistance came from at the moment when everything seemed hopeless. Every member of the Smith Family is expected to report any case of need which may come under his or her notice. These cases are discreetly investigated, not necessarily by direct application to the person concerned, and where assistance is necessary it is given perhaps nominally by a “neighbour” or some friend who opportunely happens to come along Just at the right time. Perhaps a member of the legal profession, or a doctor, attending to the affairs of a client, or a patient, learns of trouble which would probably never be heard of by a relief organisation. As a “Smith” he discreetly hints that be has reason to believe that Mr. So-and-So is “up against it.” The hint is acted upon, and when assistance is found to be necessary it is usually forthcoming, promptly and generously. Of course, this is made possible only by adequate funds being available to the organisation. It is the proud claim of the Smith Family that it has been able to function for close on two years solely by voluntary contributions and members’ fees. The organisation has set its face against street days, or anything likely to affect the legitimate shopkeeper, and has relied solely upon the goodwill of citizens to see that funds are forthcoming when the need arises.

It is also the proud claim of the Family that every penny subscribed by members, or the public generally, is devoted to affording assistance where it Is required. The overhead of the organisation works out at less than 10 per cent, of the moneys expended in affording assistance or relief, and this amount is raised annually by various functions organised by the strong ladles’ committee which acts with the Family’s board of directors. An Extensive Business. So many and varied are the activities of the organisation that it is necessary for the board of directors to meet weekly, and sometimes even more frequently. Actually, the Family is now in the position of an extensive business organisation. It controls its own boot repairing depot, probably the largest in the Dominion, where free repairs are carried cut to the footwear of unemployed workers, their wives and children. Attached to this depot is a tailoring department, where six tailors are constantly employed remaking and repairing clothes for the unemployed. The Milk Ration. One of the biggest campaigns undertaken by the Family to date is the provision -of free milk to under-nourished children in the various schools in and around Wellington. Over 2400 of these children receive daily half a pint of milk, the Family’s weekly milk bill being over £27. The supervision of these, and many other activities, keeps the board of directors fully occupied at each meeting, and now that the Christmas campaign is being organised, there will be a further call on the time and services of the business men who are responsible for the activities of the Smith Family.