CHARITY IMPOSTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 11

CHARITY IMPOSTORS.

USE OF BORROWED BABY.

SCHEME TO OUTWIT THEM.

ORGANISED RELIEF PLAN

"The Business Men's Relief Association was the subject of an address delivered at tlio Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday bv Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, of the Methodist Central Mission. Mr. Scrimgeour explained the working of this association, which has been designed to protect business men from the pleadings of impostors and to ensure that the relief given shall reach deserving cases.

Mr. Scrimgeour said one could not but be alarmed at the extent of real distress in the city. The greatest danger of poverty here was not that the people would starve, but that they would grow content merely to exist in undesirable conditions. He had seen hundreds of peoplo quite content to live upon the generosity of others. People found it so easy to obtain relief that those who were unscrupulous had little difficulty in living without working. Generous individuals could be traded upon to an unlimited extent. lie had sought to elaborate a scheme that would co-ordinate tho charity of all business men and put a check on the operations of the unscrupulous. He had consulted thoso who had had most ex|*erienco in relief work, and to them was due the credit of promoting the Business Men's Relief Association. Ho had known 011 c man who had visited nearly every firm in the city and who made as much as £IOO in a week by preying on people's sympathies. This particular case, which was known to many of (hem, had been a strong lever to bring about the formation of the association. Had that association been in existence at the time the impostor would simply have been referred to it for investigation and that would have been the end of his scheme. Some women were able to fell a very good story that business men could hardly resist, and he had known a woman who even borrowed a baby to make a good impression. On the other hand there were many cases of real need in which tho sufferers would never approach a charity organisation. Under the association's system (lie man approached would give the applicant a sealed envelope with a card in il introducing him to Mr. Scrimgeour. He would take up the case and make the necessary investigations before any relief was afforded. If a man said he had work to go to out of town a reply paid telegram was immediately sent to the address he gave. In about 50 per cent., of cases the storv was found to be false and in the. other 50 per cent, the man was assisted to get to his work. Air. Scrimgeour said lie wanted the organisation to be conducted by business men and he would look after the actual giving of relief. He invited them to test the scheme and see how it worked.

The thanks of the club were expressed to Mr. Scrimgeour.