POVERTY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13454, 27 June 1912, Page 3

POVERTY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Lately tho. public has shown some : small signs of rising from its lethargy, 1 find awakening to the knowledge that ! denying the existence of-poverty w^ll . not help to -remedy'affairs (says, the? j Cliristchurch "Pross). A few weeks ago the "Press" published the b:ire facts of a few pitiful, but merely typical cases. The matter might easily have oncled there had not the secretary of tho General Labourers' Union told last Thursday of similar homos. A reporter wont to Miss Cardalo, of the Benevolent Association, who is tho secretary . of the Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund, to ask her opinion of the examples given by the union.

Miss Cardalo declared sho could believe, and understand, tho cases set out by tho secretary of the General L.n.bor--ers' Union; they were more than possible, thoy were- very probable. Sho asked that tho secretary of tho union should give her tho names of these cases, in strict confidence,1 so that the '

Benevolent Society" <niight help them quietly and privately..;' This year many had been helped who had not applied personally. These were,the bravo, poor souls, who struggle* on, scorning to ask help of any man. Often they objected to tho visitor coming, but tact made it possible to help them.

Some of the .cases visited during the past week or so had been very bad. In several cases it had been found necessary to give four blankets—as a rule only two are given. One of- these wag that of labourer with a wife and eleven children, the eldest fourteen years of age. The father was the' only one earning money, and his wages went in baro necessities. Sacks formed the only bedding. The house was kept very tidy and clean. Theso people had intended to ease their lot a little by the sale of some apples they had grown, but they were stolen from the outhouse.