BELIEF OF HARDSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 15

BELIEF OF HARDSHIP.

SERVICE TO BUSINESS MEN.

MISSIONER'S INVESTIGATION.

NUISANCE DUE TO BEGGING. A novel and useful scheme for relief of hardship has been organised in Auckland and is receiving widespread support from the business community. It is called the Business Men's Relief Service, and its funds are built up by thi voluntary subscriptions of commercial firms, including banks and insurance offices, shops, factories, warehouses and transport services.

The advantage of the service from the business man's point of view is that it saves him the tinje and trouble at present involved in listening to and dealing with appeals for financial assistance. All such cases are immediately referred to the organisation, * which investigates the claims of the applicant and distributes charity or other forms of assistance according to individual needs. Since the formation of the service three months ago nearly 100 business concerns have joined its membership, contributing amounts up to £SO each to its funds. Investigation of all Cases. The organisation had its origin in the last commercial travellers' and warehousemen's charity drive, which brought thousands of appeals for assistance to the doors of business houses throughout the city. Through the enterprise of the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, Methodist City missioner, and Mr. A. Thompson, a relief organisation, supported by the business community, was set up, Mr. Scrimgeour undertaking to investigate all cases of hardship reported to him. The matter was placed before the board of management of the Methodist Central Mission, which endorsed Mr. Scrimgeour's action and agreed that his work should be carried out without cost to the organisation. At the present time he is dealing with scores of new cases weekly.

When a member of the service is approached with a request for assistance he gives the applicant a card of introduction to the missioner, who thus assumes all responsibility for inquiring iuto the merits of the case and the degree of assistance to be rendered. The member who introduced the person is then forwarded a report upon the case, together with an account of the assistance given. During the past month 82 cases have been referred to Mr. Scrimgeour in this manner, and of that number 30 men were assisted to obtain jobs in the country. Professional Begging.

One of the boons the new servico has conferred on the business men is the effective manner in which it has dealt with the nuisance arising from persistent and systematic professional begging. Whereas in the past such persons were frequently given charity upon request, they are now promptly referred to the Relief Service, where they receive scant attention. That the business community has been extensively imposed upon by this class of beggar is revealed by the number of cases in which persons given cards of introduction have failed to present them to the missioner.

The managers of many commercial houses have expressed their keen appreciation of the value the service is performing in this respect; they are saved the inconvenience of listening to hard-up stories, confident in the knowledge that the Relief Service will sift the merits of the case and deal competently with it. One useful consequence of the organisation's work is that by the discouragement of professional begging the amount of money available for the relief of deserving persons is considerably increased. It is estimated that about £2500 will be required annually to give an adequate service.