SOCIAL SERVICE.

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

SOCIAL SERVICE.

OVERLAPPING PROBLEM. ■ - v IMPORTANT STEP TAKEN. / REGISTRAR APPOINTED. There are numbers of men and some women, evidently firm boliever3 in the indignity of work at any time, who have been exploiting social relief organisations for a long time, and they will continue to do so as long as they see half a chance of succeeding. They are often ' plausible. From long practice they know how to "tell the tale " and awaken sympathy. One of them was caught pawning a blanket an hour after it had beon issued to him by the head of a social organisation, who decided that under the circumstances, summary justice was indicated, and so, forthwith, gave him a kick that would have punted a football some distance. Others are the kind who are sometimes found and "investigated" by amateur workers, who often hear how badly they have been treated by the organised bodies. In one known case a woman borrowed an empty room in which to pose for the benefit of kindly disposed and credulous 6amaritans. "Chary of Amateurs." The matter hag,.been discussed by the Rev. Jasper Caldcr in the Drifter, the journal of the Anglican City Mission. "Many years of experience have made me very chary of amateurs unless and un-. til I get to know them," lie says. "Among the number, there are some really splendid people—women who out of the largeness of their heart and frequently at their own expense are doing excollent work among a few cases of genuine distress. They are, however, at this disadvantage, that not being in touch with the regular social organisations, they are' often led into a lot of unnecessary trouble and frequently are taken in pretty badly. ' "Time and time again we get a feverish ring from some person telling us to go at once to No. 29 such and such a street because a woman and family of young children are just about to be turned out of their house—the bailiff is in—they have neither food nor furniture—not even one rug between them. This kind of news almost invariably comes just before the week-end or just as we are closing down for the night. "The messenger, who is often a bit chary about giving her name, informs us that she has been helping this case for some considerable time, and assures us that the people are thoroughly deserving and that the thing is desperate. When we make a little further inquiry and get the name of the family, we frequently find that it is in an old case, thoroughly well known to us—people who have had food and clothing either from ourselves or some other social agency, and we know all about them that there is to know."

An Insolent Demand, Mr. Calder mentions the case of a family, the husband a "wild and woolly fellow full of abuse and threats as to v.-hafr he is going to do if ho is not helped, the wife a poor down-trodden littlo soul with not much courage and no house-keeping ability," with three children. The mission paid their fares to the King CoSntry," There the man had a row on a Public Works job and soon was back in Auckland. Investigation proved that the department had treated him right. For a month the family was supplied with necessities. Then the man came in and demanded in a most insolent fashion that his arrears in rent amounting to £l6 should be paid. When told this was impossible he used violent and then filthy language to a woman assistant and he was forcibly ejected by the missioner. On another occasion a kindly amateur reported "a most deserving case." The husband proved to bo a well-known trickster who avoided the social agencies for very excellent reasons but had been taking advantage of amateurs for two years. "They should uso their heads as well as their hearts," said Mr. Calder. "Even bodies which might be expected to be businesslike have been imposed upon. Now and again wo hear of, say, 50 families in dire want in one district. I guarantee that there are not 50 unknown to the social organisations in the whole city." Registrar's Duty. In view of these facts the appointment was made yesterday of a registrar to assist the social organisations of the city. Mr. William Woodhead was selected. His register will embrace tho names of every person who has been on the books of any organisation, including the Auckland Hospital Board. At present some of the same names are to bo found on several lists. In future a name will appear on one list only and when an application is made by a stranger to any of the organised workers, he will ring up the registrar and find if tho person has been known elsewhere in tho city. Manna House continues to supply midday dinner to large numbers. The daily average is about 220 to 230. To the end of July 17,600 meals had been supplied and by yesterday tho number of persons so helped had reached 1000.