“FOR THE BOY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 8

“FOR THE BOY”

PROFITABLE PHILANTHROPY The credulity of suburban housewives apparently knows no bounds (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). At the Central Police Court recently it was stated that a man and a boy, begging from door to door, netted £6O in 10 weeks —or an average of £6 a week. The highest yield in a single week was £8 10s. Arthur William Ireland, a 15-year-old boy, told the court that on February 1 last he left his home in Surry Hills to enter the South Coast Hospital. He was treated for skin disease, but, after leaving the institution, slept in the Domain for three nights. Then he met Herbert George Bailey, and they visited many suburbs together, Bailey asking! foi money so that witness could receive treatment for his skin disease from Dr. Crossley, of Built. Bailey, who is 42 years of age said he was a labourer, and that he only did his best for the boy. He thought he had every right to go round and ask for support to keep the boy, and that more credit was due to him than blame. They did not get anything like £6O in 10 weeks’, it was about £2O. He spent most of it on the boy. “What was the largest amount you collected in a day?” asked the police prosecutor, and Bailey replied that it

was 3ns. He assured the sergeant that begging was net the easiest thing in the world, and he would sooner work. When work was available he was always ready to take it. A. sentence of 14 days’ imprisonment passed on Bailey was suspended.