UNEMPLOYED SAILORS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 8

UNEMPLOYED SAILORS

FREE BREAKFASTS PROVIDED. APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE. Air J. L. Frontin-Rollet, president of tho Wellington branch of tho British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, writes to the editor of the “New Zealand Times” as under: It may be of interest to your readers to know that the first “ffee'ii isikfast” for unemployed sailors, this year, was held at the society’s rooms on the morning of Sunday, June 18th. Tho only advertisement of the fact that a “free breakfast” was being held was a email notice placed inside the doorway. About fifteen sailors were present. Last Sunday (the 2oth) twenty-two attended. The impression made upon those who organised the breakfast was that every man at each breakfast was a genuine case of dire necessity as the result of unemployment. Individual cases of great hardship could be quoted at length did space permit. Names, particulars, and documents were readily forthcoming, but in each case a request was made that names should be suppressed unless as a last resort. There was one case of an elderly man who was so affected by reason of distress that he eventually found his way to Porirua. The men are still trying to obtain work, and continually apply to their union officials, the Labour and Public Works Departments, and other possible sources, and as they say, they may find work at any time. . Pending work being found, however, *the men have to sleep out, and either beg a meal or go without. If they don’t get a meal they go hungry, and if they don’t get shelter for the night they go cold, and in this weather, frequently wet as well. They have spent all their savings, most of them are strangers to this town; a number have wives and families in other parts of the Empire; they cannot get work, and they are not allowed to beg. What are they to do whilst they are looking for a job? It has been the society’s practice for some time past "to supply a light supper every night in the week, and starting from Monday last (the 26th inst) a small soup kitohen has been established, each man receiving a midday meal consisting of a basin of soup and a piece of bread. So much for the inner man. It now remains to arrange for shcl. ter for the night, and in this connection tho Harbour Board has, at the instance of Colonel Mitchell, very kindly supplied a suitable shed. Tho society is now trying to barrow blankets and palliasses for bedding. An appeal is now made for: I. Cash to buy food and help in very necessitous eases. 2. Blankets and palliasses. 3. Straw. 4. Basins am& plates suitable for holding 6cup. 6. Dessert spoons. It must be plainly understood that tho society is not out to entertain these men. Tho position is too serious for that. All that is hoped for is that baro necessity shall be provided for and starvation and cxposiuro avoided. During tho war our sailors ran a daily risk of being mined and torpedoed, and in fact thousands of out brave seamon lost their lives. Now is tbo time to show our appreciation of this fact, and our practical sympathy for our less fortunate brothers. Anyono wishing to help Bhould communicate with the undersigned oi with Mr D. Macallum, Bruce avenue, Brooklyn—J. L. Frontin-Rollet, president, Wellington branch. British and Foreign Sailor.?’ Society.