“CHARITY.”

Evening Star, Issue 20984, 24 December 1931, Page 2

“CHARITY.”

TO THB BDITOS. Sir, —1 have just looked in the dictionary for the meaning of the word “ charity.” Blackie’s standard dictionary says: “ Charity, a disposition to relieve the wants of others; benevolence ; alms; a charitable institution.” Alongside the word “ charity ” is given the meaning of the word “ charitable.” Liberal to the poor; indulgent; pertaining to charity'.” We have in our city a Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, a very worthy institution, the members of which are more concerned in showing a good balance-sheet than in “ relieving the wants of others” or being “ liberal to the poor.” In comparison with what some northern charitable aid institutions have done for indigent relief workers our local board is lacking and the members lamentably thereof show a sad want of humanitarian principles. Last Thursday a number of cases of real hardship were put before the board, but no action was taken on the lines suggested by the deputation. Instead,. wo received a statement of .what the board had. done for the poor in general, and the amounts jt had advanced to different institutions. Of course, the members were sympathetic, but did not translate their sympathy into action, except to give £l5O to the mayor’s Christmas’ fund. Some of the cases of hardship put before the board affecting relief workers were most distressing—cases of women and children being evicted from their houses, cases of relief workers who had a bouse to go to, but could not pay for shifting. Desperate cases requiring urgent help were brought before the board, but on bbing asked what it would do to help, no answer was forthcoming. The members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board were not prepared to do anything, except to say that keeping relief workers was the concern of the Government, and a national question. It was suggested by the deputation that the board could materially help at this period, and for a fortnight after New Year, by giving relief workers groceries up to the value of £1 weekly until such time as members of groups who needed help got properly started again at their work in tho new year. This proposal, along with others made, was turned down, the board in its wisdom evidently thinking that by giving a donation to the mayor's Christmas fund relief workers and their families would he able to have enough to eat for Christmas to last them for quite a lor time after-' wards—specious reasoning, indeed! In conclusion, might 1 state that we arc very conscious of what the Rev. L. B. Neale,l of the Central Mission, has done in cases of emergency. In almost every instance when appealed to by people being evicted he has tried to get another house for them, sometimes paying the first week’s rent, and also providing these people with groceries. In an eviction case where a man had his furniture read>' to be shifted hut no money to pa\’ for a carrier, this minister paid for the carrier, and did everything humanly possible for the comfort of the person concerned. A heavy burden is being thrown on him because of the attitude taken up by other bodies who should he doing this work, hut it is good to know that someone, in our midst has a heart which responds to the needs of those in poor circumstances, and who need practical help. Sympathy, “ translated into action,” is vitally necessary at this juncture, and although, personally, I think that charity should not be necessary at all. but that the worker should receive enough wages to pay his way. still, we are living under this system at the present time, and until it is changed tho worker will have to be dependent more or less on the “ crumbs from the rich man’s table.” —I am, etc., E. AV. Braithwaite. December 23.