FOOD BY CHARITY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 March 1931, Page 9

FOOD BY CHARITY

“AMOUNT SIMPLY STAGGERING” WHEAT DUTY CONDEMNED. AUCKLAND, March A “Four years’ experience of social work, during which time I have granted over 23,00 interviews to people seeking food, has convinced me of the utter futility of organised charity as a means of’ feeding the multitude of unemployed,” said the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, at the Methodist Central Misison last evening. “I am not even 1 sure that such work is Christian. It seems more an excuse for not being Christian. Every social worker realises sooner or later that to feed a man is to starve him. He must feed himself, otherwise his independence is lost and his pride destroyed. “The amount given away yearly in charity in this country is simply staggering, and yet it is far eclipsed by the greater amount that is taken from the people in overcharge for bread.” Mr Scrimgeour said. “Daylight robbery does not adequately describe this iniquitous process. It is robbery under cover of the statement ‘For the protection of New Zealand whontgrmvers ’ The money used for relieving distress does not fall like gentle flew from heaven. It, represents very often, the result of carefully-planned schemes to get money from people who are uncomfortably, but often, only dimly conscious of a great need not their own. Are we, then, to go on in the same vicious circle, while the Government grants its favours to power ill vested interests by way of protective tariffs, when in a critical period such as the present none should exist'. It is not enough to accept the promise or the Prime Minister that something will he done a year hence. . “It can never he .said that Lhrist was a dreamer,” Air Scrimgeour added. “His practical mind was always working on the problem of the people s bread. and if Ho came to New ./onland to-dav T am sure He would have some very hard things to say to those who are responsible for the exorbitant price people are compelled to- pay for the principal article of diet.”