SAMARITAN WORK IN DUNEDIN

Evening Star, Issue 18851, 28 January 1925, Page 5

SAMARITAN WORK IN DUNEDIN

FEWER CALLS FOR RELIEF. Recent inquiries of philanthropic workers have produced statements to the effect that of Into there have been fewer calls in Dunedin for relief in the way of food, clothing and shelter. The tine weather lias caused a demand for workers in the country, and the building and business spurt 'in town has given employment of some sort or other to men who cannot go to distant jobs. Ensign Coombs, the Samaritan officer of the Salvation Army, being asked yesterday whether her experience ran on the same lines, answered: '* 1 os, that is so. But it is not the whole case. The work (if the Army is continually strenuous, and those who tell you that poverty is easing off for the present would, I am sure, tell you also, if you asked, that they find, as I do, that the calls for compassion are as numerous as ever, and as urgent. The need of money is not the only need. Most of the needy who have to bo now looked after are needy because of terrible heart-wounds. As I speak I sec, a mother working at borne to try to support six children all under twelve. All that the, public know about the matter is that the father has disappeared. The mother cannot go out to work, because the children have to be looked after; and yet if she does not provide for them they will have to be taken from her by the State or some organisation. That is a sample case of those that wo have- to deal with. You may well ask why friends do not step in and help; but some needy folk have no friends who can help, and, even if there are friends--well, you know as well as I do that friends get used to sorrow; they help lor a little while, and then somebody else has to carry the burden. There arc chronic cases of sickness, too. that everyone tires_ of. These kind of distresses must he ministered to, and, Relievo me, they run away with money. Wo all know, also, of men who are not strong enough to take the employment that is offering. W'hat are they to do? And, but for the intervention of some Christian-minded persons or body, what would happen in such a ease ns 1 had this week, where the mother had to bo removed to a hospital, and the father dared not go to work and leave his two infants untended? Obviously the proper thing to do was to call on the mother, and see that she, was in good hands, and then make provision for the minding of the children. There are always cases of such a nature to be looked after, even in prosperous times. Money must bo had for the work—wo can’t do without it—but money alone cannot cure the troubles that the underworld of Dunedin is suffering from. _ compassion is the only effective agent.