BELIEF WORKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 19 September 1933, Page 2

BELIEF WORKERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Your correspondent “Citizen” waxes very indignant because a deputation of relief workers waited on the Central Relief Committee to- protest against the principle of refusing rations without work. As lie probably voices the opinion of quite a number of persons who, like him, never get beneath the surface of things might I be permitted to give him a little food for thought ? A few weeks ago this city was shocked by a report that some misguided individual had broken into a church and stolen the contents of an offerings box which had been intended (I believe) for the inmates of an orphanage. I take it “Citizen” was also shocked. Now, sir, if the individual referred to had offered to give this money back to the orphans provided they saved their self-respect by working for it, probably .“Citizen” would consider justice had been done. I think otherwise. The Central Relief Committee receives gifts from the citizens oi this city for the relief of distress. The distressed do not receive these gifts. They buy them with labour. Who then receives them? The City Council. But the City Council has no right to them. We ‘know that the council does a lot for the unemployed. But then the council receives a lot in return. Even if it did not, that does not justify the City Council or the Central Relief ‘Committee driving a wedge between the giver and the receiver. The council and the committee are using their power and the unfortunate condition of the relief workers to make an unfair bargain. If “Citizen” is a good Christian he will know that in the Scriptures we are admonished to give by stealth. ' If that is right, it must 'also be right to receive by stealth. But the committee and the council believe in advertising. The distressed have to come out' in the open and let the world at la.rge witness their unfortunate condition, and then the world at large, composed of “Citizens,” say, “What line fellows the Relief Committee members are,” hut nothing about the unfortunate victims of a wrong practice in a stupid state of society. Surely “Citizen” must see that you cannot save a man’s self-respect by humiliating him further. If the Central Relief Committee really' wanted to save the self-respect of the men they would see to it that the names of the recipients of charity were kept secret. The petition which was was signed by about 95 per cent, of those approached is a clear indication of the attitude of the relief workers and a relief worker’s viewpoint is at least worthy of as much consideration as that of any member of the committee. If anyone believes that that petition was a frame-up let the Central Relief Committee take a secret ballot of the men on the question. It can easily be done through the pay offices. They won’t do that. They are afraid. As for the “sparsely attended meetings,” I’m not going to suggest every meeting is a capacity house, but that merely goes to show the increasing demoralisation of the men by an unjust and iniquitous system. I shall have more to say about that at a later date. Had the relief workers been a little more alive to their own interests last City Council election this matter would now he settled, because a Labour Council in this city would not tolerate any battening on the unfortunate condition of its citizens. Lest I trespass unduly on your space I shall reply to the latter portion of “Citizen’s” letter .later.—l am, etc., V. A. CHRISTENSEN. 46 Heretaunga Street, 18/9/33.