VICTIMS OF HUNGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20646, 19 August 1930, Page 12

VICTIMS OF HUNGER.

DISTRESS IN AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE WOMAN'S DEATH. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. July 31. The report that a woman had died in hospital in Melbourne as- a direct result of hunger, followed close upon tho account of tho plight of many children in the poorer quarters of Sydney who were suffering because they were not receiving enough to eat. Owing to the enormous number of men who are out of work a serious situation has developed, and cases of malnutrition among adults as well as children are far too common. This has resulted in a great deal of sickness among people who have not displayed sufficient stamina to carry them over tho winter, and all the hospitals aro overcrowded. Doctors say that starvation, or semistarvation, is more common among adults than it is among children. In doing so they pay a tribute to tho parents, who, thoy say, will nearly always contrive to feed their children,, no matter how poor they may bo. Tho distress in Australia, ono doctor said, had brought into relief the self-sacrificing character of tho peoplo of tho continent. It was remarkable that so few children should be suffering from lack of food, but it was dreadful to think that their parents were. Babies were not so fortunate as their elder brothers and sisters, said this doctor, and many small babios drawn from tho poor quarters, were being treated in hospital for starvation. Actually, thoro was no need for any baby to starve, for there wero plenty of health centres whero babios could roceivo tho class of food thoy required, but many mothers wero content to struggle on and give their babios only what they could afford instead of obtaining supplies and milk which would bo theirs for tho asking. Tho modical officer in charge of ono of tho big hospitals in Melbourne said that malnutrition was common in that city. "The poor people cotno to tho outpatients' department," ho 'said, "with pains and aches thoy aro unable to ac'count for. Thoy think they aro in need of medicine, when thoy really want food. Wo aro ablo to givo them a cup of tea and somo food. Sometimes they aro so seriously undernourished that wo admit them to hospital, but like all hospitals in tho metropolitan area wo aro short of accommodation." Poverty among the patients at the Women's Hospital at Melbourne has been moro marked this year ' than ever' before. Tho idontity card, in ft groat ■number .of casos, gives tjie husband's occupation as'• "unemployed." ' Those who,,aro in- charge of relief, and Government officials, in 'both Sydney and Melbourne, say that lirido. is at "thq back of much "of the suffering that is going on to-day. "There' were scores of people who would not accept charity .in any, circumstances. They would* not go to kitchens that provided food>-except as a last' re'sort.'