SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 June 1925, Page 5

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

CHRISTCHURCH EXPERIENCES., FRAUD AND CARELESSNESS. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, June 26. Some interesting remarks wore made at the annual meeting of the Social Welfare. Guild to-night by the President, Mrs Annie E. Herbert, 'whd said that the problems encountered by members of the Guild were well nigh overwhelming, and it was pleasing to know that the Guild was working with all other similar organisations in the city. Some people were most abominable frauds, and they visited the organisation endeavouring to get something under false pretences. Very seldom a day passed without a call being received by the speaker from people telling about some sad case. Mrs Herbert said that she knew many of the people quite well by the description, and could always identify them. One woman in particular hdd secveral names. She looked very nice and got by false pretence goodness knows how many- cups-of tea and eatables per day from those on whose susceptibilities she worked. The Guild lid not know how to deal with such people. Referring to the nursing of consumptives,- Airs Herbert said that there was no danger in nursing such patients if the proper precautions were taken, but what was the use of building sanatoria if people did not do their best to prevent contraction of the disease? There was a case in point, of a very infectious-, niyn-patient who had been in the Coronation. Hospital. After he had been discharged from the institution, he went home and lived with his wife ind three children, the nouse 1 being, very old. He was accustomed to expectorate all about the place. Sharing the same room as his wife and family, he took absolutely no precautions whatever. These people left the house and another family went into it. due. speaker communicated with the ilaalth Department as soon as she heard of the matter. Later, the second man who >vent into that house was the victim ,of T. 8., and consequently hie wife and family were a burden on the ratepayers.- Old dilapidated houses, the walls of which consisted very often of scrim hnd paper, should be stripped in such -circumstances.

Mrs Herbert said that she-know of numerous other cases, and it was high time paid women inspectors were; instituted. ' Such- inspectors would have better access to houses than mon and would bVbetter able to find out all the conditions surrounding partic.hr cases. If such a step were taken the whole community would benefit. DRUG, ADDICTS. A great evil that had co e tti>yigly under public notice lately (added Airs Herbert) had been drug addicts, who were becoming more and more frequent. The case 'was quoted of the death of a-young drug addict in Auckland/ Another young man had been able to, purchase drugs anywhere. Ho had given a drug to a friend and it had resulted'in his death. She knew of the case of a -Christchurch woman who obtained £2 worth of a narcotic every week. She had come to the speaker pleading to know how to overcome, her craving and get rid of the habit. The dose this woman took was,ten grains per day, wheeras the ordinary dose giVen by a coctor was one-sixth of a grain. When these people were taken to the hospital they came out again directly the craving returned, and the doctors said that they were a great bother to deal with, but the woman re ferred to- was anxious to break herself off the habit, and she<‘(Mfs Herbert) was ipleased to say that she had net had any drug for some time. Among other cases there was that of a young chemist of 22 years of • age who was wandering round the country trying to -obtain narcotics from the various country hospitals. “Something must certainly be done to tighten the regulations,” said Airs'* Herbert. “These men'are not supposed to be able to obtain the drug, but they do all the same.” .. > undesirable migrants. Referring to the immigration question,- Airs Herbert said the people assisted by the Government wore all-right so long as they belonged to the right class. She had been struck by the number of undesirable immigrants who were‘coming out. Some of them were nominated by people who were themselves receiving charitable aid, and were assisted by the Guild. The person nominating was., supposed to be in a position to help the nominee until he or she got a footing. She. -quoted several cases of undesirable types who spent all their time in and out of the hotels and were utterly useless in any sphere of work. They should urgy the Government to see that the immigrants were examined medically before they left England. Some of them brought T.B. with them. There was quite enough of that disease in New Zealand without more of it being brought from other countries. Some of the people had been known to apply for admission before they had been in New Zealand a week; in fact, one case was known where a person had come here with .the express purpose of getting into the sanatorium. V.D. QUESTION. Then there was the big problem of venereal disease. The restrictions on sufferers must (said Airs Herbert) apply equally to both sexes. Some of those affected were in all sorts of places handling various foodstuffs, yet those who went for treatment had not been compelled to keep it up. Hundreds of people had gone for treatment once or twice, and then stopped,' but it was pleasing to see that the regulations would be enforced. The housing position was not so acute now as it had been a few years' ago, said the speaker, but rents were stills high. The man who had to pay 255, 30s-and 35s a week had not much left for the support of a wife and family, '[’here, were cases of poverty in' Christchurch, where the children had their beds covered with sacks, as the parents were too poor to buy sheets or blankets, but Christchurch, concluded the speaker, was fortunate, in having many local bodies such as the Social Welfare Guild and other organisations which were working hard to better the conditions she had referred to.