DOLE CONDEMNED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1931, Page 9

DOLE CONDEMNED

SOCIAL WORKER'S VIEW

'SLEEPING OUT" COMPLAINTS ; ..

Opposition to the "dole system" wai expressed by Commissioner J. Gimningr . ham at tho Salvation. Army meeting held in tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon. He expressed tho opinion that the dole ■would only ruin and demoralise men. "I suggest that we take our courage in both, handa and deal withthe fellows who will not work,"; h« said. Commissioner Cunningham, advocated, the establishment of "laud- cok onies" five miles outside each of' tha . four large centres. "When a man goes to the Mayor and complains that he has no money and no friends," the reply, could be made: 'I am delighted to ba able to tell you that, just a few miles away we liave ample provision for mea like you.' But we would say that the man who would, not work should, not eat. fn these days, you know, 5' ha. continued, "we need a little more coitr--age; ara .-wo all afraid we are going t« lose somebody's vote? -Let us be courageous and find something to do for thij. man who really wants to work. I hope.; the time will soon come when every, able-bodied man, in New Zealand will be in work and doing well." ; - Last winter, Commissioner Cunnings ham said, was bad, and he had beeuv told'that matters this winter might be much worse. He had heard recently.that women wore sleeping out, and ha. was making inquiries* into. that allega--tion. If that were so, whether they,were good, bad, or indifferent, no one could calmly stand by and see it being1 done; the difficulty would haye.to.be met. Ho would make the offer that if: there was Government assistance in the way of providing the necessary- furni--ture, he would undertake to find accommodation for 20 or 25 women, and-have it opened next week. There must b8 no women loft sleeping out in NeT■ Zealand.^ ... • . vv: A COMPLAINT -AIfSWEREI^;'; ■ '.'John Citizen", writes to "Th« Post" stating that ho had heard it asserted that numbers of destitute men' were nightly sleeping out in the city, reserves, and that these men were unable to get assistance from any of the charitable organisations in the city. He asks if it is possible to ascertain the ■real facts. If men are sleeping; put, • he says it is a grave' reflection on the institutions concerned and on"the good; name of tl>£ popple of Wellington. ; ' ■; "Nobody who asks for a.bed is ever refused," stated a Salvation Army official when the complaint was referred to him. " '.'. /.. ;.' Inquiries made from the police drew the information that sleeping out i$ practically unknown, in Wellington. "Tho only men A\ 7ho might sleep out," a responsible official stated, 'are strangers to the city, who arrive with only; a shilling in their, pockets, and do not know where to go, drunks,, and thosa who are frightened to go home.to their; wives." . . '. .