BASE INGRATITUDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13640, 9 July 1906, Page 8

BASE INGRATITUDE.

AX ASCII DEACON'S EXPERIENCE Pvecenlly there, was an outcry in Sydney from a certain section of Ihe louiiminit.y because Jtidgf Doeker imposed a sentence, of seven days' imprisonment on three boys who were convicted in Bathursl of stealing food from a farmhouse. It, was said that Iho youths, who had left Sydney to seek work in tlie country, were starving when they committed tho theft, and a good deal was heard about the demoralising influence which the working out of the sentence would have on them. Tho Rev. Archdeacon Oakes, of Kelso, came forward and offered to take charge of the hoys until work was found for them, and Judge Docker thereupon altered.the sentence- to one till the rising of the court.

Tho Sydney Labour Council wrote to Archdeacon Oakcs thanking him for what he had done for the boys, and iu Humid tor implied that, on the part of the Church there was a lack of sympathy with those whom tho Sydney Labour Council represented.

Archdeacon Oakcs replied, in a communication which came before the Labour Council a few days ago. Ho said:—"The hoys wcro at my house for nearly a week, f got them a horse and cart, traps, and rations, and everything clso they required to start rabbiting. All my household went out to ,soo them off and wish them success, but not ono of them had tho civility to say good-bye. They lied to me consistently up to tho time of their departure, spent what little money they had in cigarette*, quarrelled with each other as they went out. of the gate as to who shrould drive, and stole my child's bridle out of the stable." Archdeacon flakes mentioned tho matter io show that tho task of tho Church was not such an easy one when she tried to show practical sympathy with those who claimed it. He further stated that at ono of tho Christmas dinners provided for tVoso who would otherwise, have had little to eat on that festivo day an old man said it was not religion but work they wanted. After a good dinner, and receiving a supply of food sufficient for several days, those who had been entertained evidenced their sense of gratitude by stealing sonic of tho knives and forki; which had been borrowed from tho local hospital for the occasion.