A PITIABLE POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1929, Page 5

A PITIABLE POSITION

BAD CASE OF POVERTY. By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 11. A shocking state of affairs is revealed at Petone, in the case of a family of a man recently imprisoned, for false pretences. The crime was induced by the fact that for months lie was out of work, with a wife and eight children to provide for. He was too proud to let anyone into the house, and the woman suffered the utmost privation. Stick by stick everything went to provide food, while only a table, three by two, was left in the kitchen and a pot, nothing whatever - else. On top of this, the woman on Sunday gave birth to .her ninth child. Tnere was nobody to know or help t except the children themselves, the oldest of whom is a girl of twelve. There was no light in the house owing to overdue accounts and an order for possession by the State Advances Office owihg to unpaid instalments.

Despite her pride the woman was reduced to asking the Charitable Aid Board for help and £1 19s 6d a week was granted, but it was quite insufficient to meet the needs of such a family and the expectant mother. The whole facts only became known yesterday morning and the immediate necessities have been promptly met.