THE RELIEF WORKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 252, 21 September 1933, Page 2

THE RELIEF WORKERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In reply to “Citizen,” may I be permitted to tell him a few facts? Being just a relief worker’s wife, 1 think 1 am in a better position than “Citizen” to know what our lot is. First of all, I admit we are receiving the magnificent sum of £1 6s 3d per week, and in our case we have only 12s (id per week in rent, and don’t forget this, we pay it. Well, now, we have 13s 9d left on which to live and clothe three people. Can you imagine what that means? If not, try it, and do like I am, without going to the depot for either rations or clothes. In a few weeks or less you would realise why men and women are forced to the depot for help, and even you, “Citizen,” might become a little more human. 1 think I can safely say that there is not one relief worker who would object to working one or more days per month, providing they were paid in cash, and not in rations or citizens’ left-off clothing. If the average relief worker’s wile is better dressed than yours, then all I can say is you both need a lesson in economy. It would be better to start before it is too late; there is such a lot of things to learn, and one is that when on relief you cannot work both your electric light and rates off. You get one day’s work per month for one or the other, but not for both. As for “Citizen No. 2,” what is wrong with him? In his opinion the man on relief does no work at all; yet he would like to be on relief, but lie is totally unfit for outdoor work. By liis own admission he has not even strength enough to be on the job, yet he can advise others how to use a shovel that lie is too weak or lazy to use himself. Think of the pleasure in store for you when yon are forced to the depot for rations. Anyway, it would be better for “Citizens Nos. 1 and 2” to show a little more kindness and sympathy towards their less fortunate fellowbeings, who are “down and out” and struggling for a bare existence, than to rush into print and expose their own stupidity and lack of understanding.—l am, etc., RELIEF WORKER’S WIFE.