RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 142, 13 December 1933, Page 11

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

CHEISTMAS EFFORTS

SHORTAGE OF .FUNDS

From various inquiries it appears that there will be more difficulty than usual in increasing the relief of distress at the festive season this year.' The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), asked the position of the Mayor's Fund, said that an announcement would be made shortly, but in the meantime he was awaiting the financial result of the National Confidence Carnival. Whatever the extent of the assistance from the carnival may be, it is probable that the Mayor's Fund will be found, apart from that, to be in as urgent need of funds as some of the other charitable organisations, none of which are able to supply the calls upon it. as it would wish. CITY MISSION'S POSITION. "My family in the men's shelter averages 230 daily," said the Key. T. Fielden Taylor today, "which means supplying about ijOO meals a clay, whicli involves a cost of £500 a month. Also, I have daily 50 aged people coming in for their hot midday meal. This, and the fact that my boys' hostel is still as full as ever, also means money. "I am sorry to say that unless before the end of March £2000 can be raised, I shall be forced to close down certain activities of my mission, and that on the eve of winter, and at a. time when they are most necessary. "No man in my shelter, or young boy in my hostel, earns anything like sufficient for his keep and clothing. It seems to me that until the situation improves there must be a continuous call \on ' private charity, much as I dislike making the call. "I have always stood for the down-and-out, and at such times as these my work is increasing daily. We do not encourage, spongers and loafers, and the City Mission is always open to its supporters' investigation. AYe look on it as a public mission, indeed it is the public of Wellington.' that keeps it going, and all ye can do, is to ask the public to help."" SALVATION ARMY. Brigadier Macaulay, of the Salvation Army, while unprepared at the moment to give figures, said that the demands were if anything heavier every week, and the only course appeared to be to respond as freely as resources permitted' to the calls made upon them, some of which were the result of dire need.- The response to their appeals had not yet concluded, but there was evidence already that it could not nearly meet their needs. The best course for men on sustenance, he considered, was to hand over their allowance to one of the charitable organisations, and accept the best that could be done for them under the circumstances. -While a very large proportion 1 of the recipients paid up when they could, others did not. MAYOR'S FUND, HAMPERS. With a view to eliminating the possibility of overlapping by the various organisations distributing hampers, etc., at Christmas time among the needy, "a meeting was recently convened at the Town Hall by the deputy chairman (Mr. H. H. Mirams) of the Mayor's relief committee. . Kepresentatives of the following organisations were present:—The New Zealand Smith Family Joyspreaders; Returned Soldiers' Association; The Salvation Army; The Shqll Company Employees. Other organisations who could not attend submitted their lists: - At the meeting the names of all suggested recipients for hampers were checked over. Consequently, the public who, have generously'donated funds for Christmas cheer will doubtless be pleased to learn that through the method adopted, there is little likelihood 'of overlapping, or any family receiving more than one hamper. „