AN URGENT APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 74, 29 March 1932, Page 6

AN URGENT APPEAL

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l was immensely interested in the article on pauperisation in the "Evening Post" of Saturday last. Like all articles of its nature it contains an element of truth, but it seems .to-me', to obscure the main issue. I feel very strongly that during the past year the wages paid on relief work have forced people on to charity, A single man has received 54s a month; this works out at 13s 6d a week; on this it is impossible to live. A married man has received . 105s a month. This works out at 26s 3d a week; he has rent to pay, and if .he has anything like a decent family he too is forced on to charity. All this has meant that these people have been 'more, or less forced to come to private charitable agencies such as ours for the past twelve' months, and as a matter of fact we have been feeding 300 people a day and been supplying groceries] meat, and coal, and sometimes helping with rent sixty married families well known*to tis. t I have carefully studied the proposals issued by the Government. It must be remembered that the House is at present adjourned, and even when it meets it will take some time to get the proposals through, and even if they get through it will take some time to get them into action. I am afraid that no suggested scheme will bring any real alleviation for the next three or four months, and I am only too conscious that our funds are exhausted. We need £00 a month to give beds and meals to men in our men's shelter, and at least £50 per month to meet the bare necessities of married families. I am very well aware of the fact that we are by no means the only organisation, doing social work. I live in hopes of the day coming h-hen there will be some real amalgamation of such bodies, but till that happy day arrives we must each do what we can to meet the need which confronts us. I assure your readers that every attempt is made to prevent overlapping and to weed out the unworthy. I venture to again trespass on your

columns to make an appeal which, in view of the present conditions, it is very difficult to make, but which, is the more urgent because of the very existence of these conditions. I am only too well aware of the present financial stringency, but I am sure that if each of us who could would do just the little we can the present emergency, would be easily met. I am hoping this appeal will enable me to tide over the next six months. This means at least £750. I would also be grateful for clothes, meat, vegetables, or coal. It must be borne in mind that all the workers I have referred to are facing the winter without the means to replenish their clothes or fill the coal shed. The public have been so good in response to previous appeals of mine that I am taking my courage in both hands and issuing this. —I am, etc., . T. FEILDEN TAYLOR, Missioner.