A SAD STORY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2328, 23 December 1925, Page 4

A SAD STORY

A MAX’S MISFORTUNE. AND A WOMAN’S PLUCK. The folowing is from “Smith’s Weekly.”— Just before the war Harold Alwynne arrived In Queensland from India, where he had been employed in the Civil Service as a telegraph operator. Came the war, and Alwynne joined up. Three years’ active service, most of it in rFance. was his record with the sth Light Horse and later with the 4,lst Battalion of the A.I.P. When he cams back to Australia from the front with his young English bride the outlook appeared bright Fate determined otherwise. Shortly after his return and as a result of hia war service, possibly the aftermath of trench exposure, deafness set in. This incapacitated him from following his usual occupation as telegraph operator. Like many more he signed the doduration that he was “fit” at the time of his discharge. When ho later applied for a pension this declaration was used against him, and he was knocked back. The only work open to him W'aa labouring, and there was little enough of that.

Meanwhile a young family made the financial position more acute. About four months age the Alwynnes removed to Paddington. The cottage they got had only three rooms. The doors were without handles or keys. The occupants dared not use the bath as the water emptied through a break in the boards to lodge beneath the dwelling. There was no drainage system. For this they were asked 35/- a week! But fate had still a harder blow to deal Alywnne.

Two months ago, at a titne when his wife was expecting their fourth child, he found himself unemployed, without food, and nothing to look forward to hut Government relief rations and Worker?’ Unemployment Insurance

On top of this he received a summons for £5 5/ for rent together with an ejectment notice from his landlord.

Having heard of the benevolent nature of Alf Jones, Queensland's Minister of Alwynne approached him. Jones’did not simply Sympathise and refer him to someone else. He paid the Digger’s rent and the summons was withdrawn. The landlord, hearing of this fountain of generosity, sent a couple more of his unfortunate tenants who were

behind in their rent to Alf. Jones, in the hope that he would treat them aa he did the Digger. Mr Jones referred them to' their sender. Three weeks before Mrs Aiwynne’s baby boy was born, the family reachits lowest straits financially. So desperate -was Mrs Alwynne that she was compelled to borrow £2 2/from a nurse. Having no goods to pledge aa security for the loan, sho pledged hep uncollected baby bonus of £5 upon hor unborn Infant. When the baby was born and the bonus collected, the nurse, after deducting her own professional foe, handed Mrs Alwynne the sum of five shillings! i Fate still frowns on the Alwynne family. The husband Is without regular employment and their landlord has obtained an ejectment order against them. lAt present they are searching for even a single room in which to find shelter. Mrs Alwynne keeps on smillng. “He fought three years in Prance,” she says. It’s my turn on the Australian front." Somebody in Brisbane should now load the cheers.