THE PROUD POOR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1930, Page 9

THE PROUD POOR

DISTRESS IN SYDNEY

MttAL TICKETS RESENTED

Applications for temporary relief by unemployed in the city.streets are becoming so frequent that many citizens are inquiring whother there is no .satisfactory alternative to handing out cash for apparently genuine cases. People who are ready and anxious to help recognise the unwisdom of giving money to strangers indiscriminately. They suggest that a better jnethod would be to supply thoniselvcs with meal tickets for distribution, since this would ,at least entitle the applicant to clean food under the supervision of a recognised organisation, says tho "Sydney Morning Herald."

Inquiries in tho city revealed that charitably disposed people can readily secure such tickets for distribution, to needy persons. For instance, from the Sydney Night Refuge, 2, Francis street, under the auspices of the Central Methodist Mission, a book of meal tickets, representing 21 three-course meals, including soup, meat, and pudding, can bo produced for 18s. No tickets, are available for beds, because the accommodation is limited, and ail are taken up by 0 p.m. each day. The refuge supplies. about 180 frco meals daily, yet even .so often 100 men aro turned away every morning. They have first preference next day.

Tickets for meals can also be obtained fro in the City Mission. The demand for shelter is also taxing to the utmost tbo accommodation controlled by the mission, which provides a bed and morning meal for necessitous cases, and also pays for men sent to the various Salvation Army hostels. The Central Methodist Mission makes arrangements for receiving men at a building, at which there are free beds, dormitories, and a number of cubicles. NOT POPULAR. Several social workers, however, deprecated the value of meal cards for distribution by private citizens. Experience has shown, they said, that in most cases this • alternative to money was resented by unemployed nien in distress, that they often refused to accept them, or, if they did, failed to use them. The ease of a Judge of the Supremo Court, who had been overwhelmed by applications for charitable assistance, and had made a special arrangement for bed and meal cards with the City Mission, was mentioned. The Judge had issued cards instead of giving money to all who seemed to him to be in real need, yet not one of the numer-' (ma cards he distributed had been .returned to the mission. " • .

At the City Night Refuge and Soup Kitchen, in Kent street, the manager (Mr. Holmes) saidt "We no longer issue tickets. Tell people to send needy applicants for aid along here, and we will look -after them." The Befuge had thought it advisable to discontinue the ticket system, he said, because the men usually regarded acceptance of such form of relief as a blow to their selfrespect.

During June, 23-121 meals and 4415 beds had been provided. The great need of the moment, he added, was clothes, and especially boots. The Benevolent Society of New South Wales, which deals with cases .of distress on a largo scale, does not supply tickets. The organisation is fully occupied in dealing with as many as 8600 unemployed men a week, as well as giving relief to women and infants, and its various institutions are attending an increasingly large number of cases.