DISTRESS IN CHRISTCHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 April 1930, Page 4

DISTRESS IN CHRISTCHURCH

PEOPLE WITH HOMES

BUT NO WORK

(By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail")

CiIRLSTCIIURCH. Ist April. "Distress in the city is becoming more and more acute and the need for help grows greater, far greater than when I first came here three months ago," Adjutant H. .Goffin, commanding officer of the City Corps of the Salvation- Army told a reporter to-day. "Every day I am appealing for donations- of money and donations in. kind, but those who have them seem very reluctant to give. Something has to be do: 1 " at once before the winter months. What T am concerned about is the great number of men in distress who have homes of their own and who. therefore,' some people think have no need of help. Actually these are in greater need than those who have v no homes. Their incomes are cut off. They cannot pay interest on their mortgage nor vet" buy sufficient food. Many of the city ratesarc outstanding simply because these mcu cannot pay and their position is rapidly becoming worse.

"In many homes the furniture is being sold piece by piece." said Adjutant Gofßn. In souk! (he furniture ■had been almost entirely depleted to buy [nod. Something oueht to be done too; lie urged, to provide free meals for school children. Main- children were goin.c hungry to school in the morning. Mr Goffin's words were fnllv borne out by the city missioner (the Rev. P. I>vcll). "The position all through the summer has been bad and now it is growing acute," said Mr Revell. "Week by week the numbers at the St, Martins House increase and mnnv of them arc very serious cases. Ail 'applicants are of a very decent type and the stories tney tell me arc very sad."