THE CITY MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 12

THE CITY MISSION

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Ever, since I can remember I have got into trouble and fought my way out of it. Of course, I went off to the Great War and came back full of life and buck. Having come back, of course, I had to look for further trouble; I could not be. expected to settle down to a quiet life after living with soldiers for four years. So I came to the Mission in Taranaki Street, with the idea -of doing all that could be done for the deserving poor of both sexes and of all ages. Sly word, I soon found my hands full. .

We opened a hostel for boys who could not earn enough to pay the ordinary rate of board, and had no difficulty in getting numbers. We alsb started a hot dinner per day for the aged pensioners and ' soon found we hatl fifty guests who paid one shilling per, week each.

■ Two years ago I was disturbed because so many decent men were sleeping out. So I burnt my boats, bought a large store in Martin Square, transformed it into a men's- shelter, laid out £9250 which I borrowed, and promptly took in over 180- men and have done so ever since. At first things were comparatively easy because the Hospital Board paid regular money for men sent by. them. Last year the-Hos-pital Board died and the Unemployment Board took its place, with, the .result that the money' we had received from the Hospital Board stopped and nothing took its place. -Last year we gave away 76,436 meals and 54,597 beds, and it looks 'as -if we . shall have to do the same this year.

We put up men who are about to go into camp, B2 men and men from seventeen to nineteen years of age not eligible for camp. We do all we can to get work for these as soon as possible. Our revenue does not equal the demands made upon it. Last year the men's shelter showed-a deficiency of £2195, the boys' hostel a deficiency of £629, and the old folks' meals a defieiencv of £116. • "'■

At date I have an overdraft of £1200, and unless I can wipe this out this month I shall be forced to close down the men's shelter. I cannot bear to think of this at the approach of winter. Many men of goodwill are giving me £10 each to enable me to meet the situation and the object of this.letter is to invite the public to do what they can and do it quickly. I want to say that we' keep no wasters and we eliminate waste. I thank you for inserting this letter. I am sure that the public will do what they can to enable me to carry on for the next twelve months of a year which is admittedly difficult. '

I get so anxious that I often \ wish myself that I had left the needs of others alone and taken on work which would not have carried so much anxiety but I am sure that the duty of each decent man is to pull his' weight and I shall try to pull mine until the brighter days come and life is easier.—l am etc., '

T. FIELDEN TAYLOB, . 'City Missioner.