HOSTILE UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 10

HOSTILE UNEMPLOYED.

MISSIONER UNDER FIRE.

SCENE AT CITY SHELTER. APPEAL FOR FORBEARANCE. MEN IN TRUCULENT MOOD. An appeal for forbearance was made to the malcontents at the City Mission's night shelter in Hobson Street by the missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder, last evening. A section of the men received his remarks with open hostility and he left the shelter amid "boohs."

Mr. Calder said he had received a petition signed by 140 men, complaining of the quality of tho food, an insufficiency of towels and cutlery and the lateness of the evening meal. No one was better aware than himself that there were deficiencies and ho knew that the accommodation was too small for the number of men attending, but he asked them to bear with him during a very difficult period.

The shelter, said Mr. Calder, was maintained by public subscriptions, which were all too few. Some citizens appeared to think that because they were paying the unemployment levy there was 110 further call upon their generosity; others vera genuinely unable to contribute on account of depleted incomes. Shaking Public Confidence.

"The more some of you men do to shake public confidence in this shelter the less will the public be inclined to contribute to its maintenance," said Mr. Calder. "We do not ask you to grovel humbly for what we give you; that is not the British way; but we do ask you not to embarrass us. We cannot do more than we are doing at present, but if you will give us time we will carry out what improvements we can. "If you were invited to a private house for' dinner it would not be considered quite the thing to criticise the food in the presence of your host. Some of the things said about the shelter and the City Mission in this leaflet"—holding up a sheet published by the Unemployed Workers' Association—"are so untrue as to constitute libel. We do not wish to take legal action on. that account, buL I want to say this: If you are determined to maintain a policy of heckling it would be better if you agreed not to_ come here

again." When Mr. Calder had finished a chorus of questions broke out. "I want to know who criticised us in the newspapers,"' said one man. "They say we are an irresponsible few, but the fact that 140 men signed the petition out of 200 gives' it the -lie," said another, "and 50 of them are returned soldiers." "They call us agitators, but you will agree that agitating brought about Christianity." "I will not go into that or we will be here all night," said Sir. Calder, in reference to the last remark. Apology Demanded and Refused. " Well, we want you to make a personal apology," interjected a man. " I will do no such thing," returned Mr. Calder. " It would be a good thing if you closed the shelter and let the Government run it," was the next comment.

" If you let the Government do it and make uie Mussolini it will be all right," rejoined Mr. Calder, amid laughter.

One of the men said it had come to his notice that a quantity of pies and pastry donated to the men in the shelter had been kept back and consumed privately.

Mr. Calder said he thought that was, incorrect, whereupon he was bombarded with jeex-s and cries of: " Yes, it is true." Complaints about the condition of the beds in the shelter elicited the reply that while the sleeping quarters admittedly were too crowded, cold baths were provided and hot ones could be obtained at ihe Municipal Baths. A Refusal to Co-operate. The next grievance aired was that two men were using one towel between them. Mr. Calder replied that 100 towels already had disappeared and the same thing applied to a large number of pannikins. .Additional supplies, however, were to hand. Someone close to Mr. Calder passed a remark. " Did you say we are running the show for profit ?" rapped out Mr. Calder. " Yes,", was the reply. " Then you are a liar," Mr. Calder retorted with emphasis. The next question referred to the late opening of the shelter in the evening. *' You fellows give me a man's agreement that you will not embarrass me further and I will give you a definite promise that I will open the shelter earlier and that you can stay in it longer," said Mr. Calder.

Chorus of Voices: No, it cannot be done. Mr. Calder: Well, 1 just want to, see if yqu will help us. Someone shouted amid a babel of voices that he would fight for his rights. Mr. Calder: If you are going to fight rne that is the end of it. I will not be bullied by anyone. As Mr. Calder walked down the stairs lie was followed by jeers and " boohs" Ixom the militant section.

REPORT ON INSTITUTION. SOCIAL WORKERS SATISFIED. Conditions at the City Mission shelter end the question of the provision of meals were discussed at a meeting of the executive. of the Auckland Social Workers' Association yesterday. There was a full attendance of representatives from the Anglican, Roman , Catholic, Presbyterian. Methodist and Salvation Army relief organisations. The chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, and Mr. W. K! Howitt, chairman of the board's Relief Committee, also attended. There was a long discussion on a report presented by the Ilev. Jasper Calder, who referred in detail to the conduct of the shelter. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Howitt both expressed satisfaction that the work was being carried out to the best of the mission's ability, particularly in view of the acute shortage of money. The representatives of the other organisations agreed that the best possible arrangements had been made for the welfare of the men. The Salvation Army has intimated its willingness to provide soup and bread for a noon "snack" daily for unemployed men who are otherwise provided for at the shelter. Mr. Wallace commended the fine spirit of co-operation among the social workers of the city. He said he did not know how the Hospital Board could carry on without the assistance of the various organisations which were contributing to th» relief of people in needy circumstances.