RICH MAN'S CHOICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

RICH MAN'S CHOICE

LIFE IN A WORKHOUSE PAL FOR OUTCAST' LADS A wealthy retired solicitor —a mart who was M.P. for Oxford—has given up the comforts of his lovely old house, Shipton Manor, near Oxford, and is now sleeping, gating and living in a workhouse. His daily food is the simple fare supplied to vagrants. The man is Mr. Frank Gray. The workhouse is the Bicester Poor Law; Union. Mr. Gray is " Master " of it. A few weeks ago he took over the place in order to further his life's work for tramp's and vagrants and started a scheme for reclaiming youths and boys who have never had a chance. Although the scheme has only been in operation for a week or two already more than 20 lads are being helped back to normal life. "As soon as a young tramp comes here he is given a bath, a hair-cut, two new suits of underclothing, and two pairs of boots,' says Mr. Gray. " An hour after he arrives there is a total change in the boy." One of Mr. Gray's queerest cases is that of a lad who was twice given accommodation in his home. "He was the most plausible lad I have ever met," 1 declared Mr. Gray. "In the end-. I shipped him to Australia. -He jumped his ship, however, and managed to get to South America. There he coaxed the British Consul to give him a secondclass ticket to England, and I had ai telephone message from him at Liverpool the other day telling me that he was coming to see me. He is the type that will never work, but will never go hungry—a likeable rogue." Another of Mr. Gray's proteges has built up a prosperous milk business and employs a large number of hands in Canada. " There is no nagging here; if a boy does something he shouldn't do he gets a real telling-off, and that is the end of the matter," said Mr. Gray.