APPALLING POVERTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 December 1928, Page 5

APPALLING POVERTY.

PLIGHT OF -COAL WORKERS,

WHOLE COMMUNITIES STRICKEN

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (“Times” Cables.)

LONDON, Dec. 3. There has not been industrial distress such as the plight of -the coalfields since the cotton famine, says a leader in 44 The Times.” Whole communities have been stricken, homes have been rendered bare of clothing and boots have been worn out. Bedding has become scarce. Neighbours harts been reduced) to sharing their meagre cooking appliances.

Their poverty at the approach of winter becomes chronic. A population of 750,000 finds that employment has simply left .them; they must find other work far afield.

Calamity has fallen swiftly and severely, yet the remedy must be slow. 4 ‘The Times” suggests an addition to the general relief funds. Different towns might adopt villages, as was done after the war.