COLLECTING FOR THE POOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18101, 27 May 1922, Page 1 (Supplement)

COLLECTING FOR THE POOR.

A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES.

BY A. LENTON.

On Saturday last, during the clothes drive, many people enquired—" How is it that you commercial travellers are so successful with this sort of thing? " My reply was, organisation and enthusiasm. When we are convinced that tho cause is a deserving one, we take it up heart and soul. During the period of the war, the commercial travellers collected jointly over a quarter of a million pounds for the soldiers' widows, and orphans. We, as commercial men, have to push our wares, and when we work in the cause of charity, we push harder than ever. Our president is a splendid organiser, and directly he called a general meeting, to discuss tho " Poor and Needy " question, he soon convinced us that we were up against it, and every man offered his services readily. Tho only question asked, was: "What can I do? " Working committees were formed and these organised the collection and clothes drive. Ladies volunteered to assist in collecting, and things began to take a tangiblo shape. The social workers assured us that there was a tremendous amount of poverty in, and about the district, and that most of the deserving cases, kept in the hack ground and did not parade it. The dates being fixed, we figuratively took off our coats, and on the 19th and 20th every man knew what he was expected to do, and did it. Passing By on the Other Side. Tt would be a revelation to many people, what an insight into human nature we got, in those two days. Take my own experience. I started early in the morning to collect with a box in the street, and the first thing that impressed mo was the mean selfishness of some people, and the willing generosity of others. Several men who saw me with a box in my hand, suddenly remembered a pressing engagement, turned sharply at a tangent, and went another way. Others, came sauntering along, but when they sighted the box, rushed past like a hurricane, and dodged it. One young " Nut,'' with creased trousers, and embroidered socks, scattering perfume as he walked, gave me as his contribution, a stony stare, and liko the I'harasee passed by on the other Hide. Numbers of people remarked they had no change, but I was able to inform them that I had any amount and when I produced a handful of small change they (with only one exception) ignored my offer and vanished ruminating, no doubt, as to how they could dodge the next collector. The Willing Givers. The majority of people responded willingly, and as I was due at the club at 10 o'clock, I was gratified to find that my box was the first to Ims presented to the treasurer, and contained considerably over five pounds. I had drawn first blood and was thirsting for more. It was my business however to visit the ladies collecting in the streets, and to look after their requirements, and I looked on with the greateet admiration at the way in which they worked. Every one was an " angel of mercy." They smiled sweetly, although their backs must have ached, and their feet felt sore, but thsy pegged away, hour after hour with grim determination, thus proving that they were working in a good cause, anc we, the travellers freely admit that we owe our success mainly to the efforts s.nd assistance of the ladies.

Respecting the clothes drive, w® have only one cause of complaint, viz., that although it was well advertised that we should commence to pollect at 8 a.m. sharp, many people wtire not ready, and we either had to wait while the parcels were being made up, or call later, and in consequence, we had to cover most of the ground twice, which gave us unnecessary work.

My colleague and I had some unique experiences, one woman nearly snapped our heads off, another grumpy old man said he had no sympathy with the poor, as in most cases they had brought it " on themselves." But in most cases, we were greeted with the greatest civility, and received every encouragement, and several ladies invited us to partake of iriorning tea, we politely declined, for as my co-worker sagely remarked —" when we took this job on, we did not come out for a joy-ride and a picnic." We soon made the discovery that the more pretentious the house, the less we received, and we naturally wondered whether the acquisition of wealth tended to make people selfish. Touching Experiences. I had one experience that touched me greatly. At a poor-looking cottage a little woman opened the door surrounded by a group of children. Upon making ray request for clothing etc., she shook her head sadly and stated that she had a big family, and it was as much as she could do to clothe and feed thsm. I thanked her, and turned to leave. She called me back, saying: "Wait a minute, sir! " And to my astonishment, she handed mo half-a-crown. I looked at the coin and the giver. I dared not refuse it, but that little episode I shall never forget, and the unselfish action of this woman spurred me on to greater efforts. A more touching experience even than this happened in one of the poorer districts. When our collector called, the door Was opened by a motherly-looking woman. The place looked spotlessly cleart, but had an air of poverty. When th'p request was made for clothing the occupant of the house shook her head sadly and remarked, " I wish I could help you, but I am a poor lonely widow, and it is all I can do to make both ends meet." My friend noticed her pedal extremities looking rather bare. She saw his look of surprise, and remarked, " I v im sorry you caught me like this, but I have only one pair of stockings, and have been washing them so as to go church to-morrow. And after fumbling with her underskirts, she handed him a shilling for the " poor and needy." Here was one of the finest women the Creator ever made. She could not affr/rd another pair of stockings, but felt it her duty to contribute her mite towards those who were worse off than herself.

We (the collectors) all had similar experiences, and yet people who do not wish to see it. and are, less inclined to contribute to relieve it. state there is no poverty in our midst. If you have any doubt on the subject, ask the social workers, the sisters of the poor, the Salvation Army, and they can enlighten you, and you will feel proud and thankful that you have had the opportunity to help in providing food and clothing for those poor creatures who through force of circumstances are actually in want. We commercial travellers arc proud to be asked to help in such a noble work. The results have exceeded all our expectations, thanks to the generous support the nublic have given us. and the confidence they have placed in us. If in our efforts we pestered you, badgered you. and figuratively, bled you to death on Friday Inst we have a very good excuse to offer, and that is. wo did it to help the " poor and needy." 1