QUADRUPLETS AND OTHERS.

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 13

QUADRUPLETS AND OTHERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have read what the citizens of Dunedin have been asked to do to help to furnish the new home of the Johnson babies, and 1 am writing this letter to say that I think some other mothers with eight ajid ten little 'ones (and perhaps the husband not working on a full-time job) deserve more help than Mr Johnson, who is in steady employment. These mothers have only the family allowance to rely upon, and there is a lot to go through before a person gets that. My husband is unlucky to be on a casual job, and his wages have been below £1 10s and not over £3 6s—that is, without tax taken off. He was out of work for over two months before getting this work, and we have five children, and I am going into a nursing home shortly. I thought I would do what 1 could to better our position, or get a little towards wy little one-to-be in the way of clothing, so I called at the mayor’s office and explained my case, thinking he would do something in the way of work for my husband; but I was candidly told by His Worship that I could not get any relief because my husband is not on the unemployed. I asked if the mayoress could do anything for me in the way of clothes for the little one-to-be, and Mr Cox said no, she only helps unemployed. (Why have we not got Mrs K. S. Black back again? She was never known to refuse relief where it wms needed.) I was amused to read in the ‘ Evening Star ’ the same evening that the mayor, gave £lO as a birthday present to the Johnson quadruplets. They also have the new house and ground free, and now the people are ashed to help furnish this new home. Mr Johnson is not on tho unemployed, and why should we be asked to do this? If my husband bad steady work 1 would not think of asking for help. Losing my home by fire 13 years ago (a fortnight before the birth of one of my children), f was in worse circumstances than the Johnsons. I had to rely on friends to help. We have had our share of trouble, and my husband has been off and on in hospital, yet this is the first time I have asked for assistance. I know mothers with triplets, but there is no fuss over them. I am writing this, not asking for help, but just giving my opinion as to where help is needed most. [ am sure there are many mothers in Dunedin who need help but are too proud to ask for it. Lord Nuffield’s money is meant for the needy, not for a home which I feel sure has every comfort it is possible to have. We mothers have our children under some very poor conditions, but just because we only have one or two we can go undernourished. I think it is time wo helped tho needy, not the rich. _ I would give mv "last, halfpenny if T thought a mother was struggling with a family. When a man is' on the unemployed ho is looked down upon, arc] if ho is not earning enough to feed b’S lamily he is still looked down unoii. In his speech Mr Savage (Prime Minister) said no family shall want. Mr Cox will never know who are in" want if he takes only two minutes to hear your

case and then says you have to be on the unemployed. He did not take particulars or anything. I think we are all asleep.—l am, etc., A Mother-to-be. March 12.