POVERTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 7 June 1924, Page 8

POVERTY.

MANY CASES IN TIMARU,

SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE COAL AND BLANKET FUND.

With reference to the special appeal to be made to the public on Friday, June 13, for financial support for the coal and* blanket fund, the following letter has been received by the editor of the “Herald,” from hia Worship the Mayor: “Dear sir,—l will esteem it a favour if you will kindly bring the claims of the coal and blanket fund under the notice of your readers. This fund has been in existence for a number of years, and has been the means of alleviating quite a lot of distress among the citizens of this town, 112 families having been supplied with coal, and 38 with blankets during the past year. "The administration is in the hands of a committee with special knowledge of cases of distress, so that those contributing can rest assured that all moneys will be spent to the best advantage.

“While recognising the advisability of inculcating self reliance, the committee feel that there are many cases of distress and want requiring immediate relief; this cannot he accomplished without increasing the funds, and with this end in view the committee intend making a special appeal to the public on Friday, June 13, when they hope to get the financial support that the cause deserves.

“In the meantime a subscription list is open at the Borough Council Chambers, where donations will be thankfully received and duly acknowledged.” Yesterday a “Herald” reporter made inquiries as to the extent of poverty in Timaru, and elicited some surprising information. It seemed hardly possible that cases of such destitution could exist in a town like Timaru, yet there they were; not one, but many. In some instances they were due to bad management; in others, to misfortune and ill-health for which no one could he blamed'. Little children were the chief sufferers.

The worst case was that of a family, of ten, the father almost blind, and in bad health, and the mother suffering from consumption. The eight children were all young. This family were living, all together, in a rough shack, made from packing cases, proof against neither rain nor wind. There was no stove, only an open fire-place, and no cooking utensils of any description. There were no beds and very little bedding, and the children were very poorly clad. The youngest child, a little tot of about two years of age, had no other clothing hut a single piece of filthy rag when seen by a member of the committee some time ago. As far as could be ascertained, the family were living only by the kindness of the neighbours. In another case, an ex-imperial soldier, with a wife and one child, avfd with no qualifications for any skilled trade, owing to his army service, was unable to do heavy work owing to war disabilities. He drifted from -one job to another, and finally came to Timaru in the hope of obtaining some employment. After a time he succeeded in obtaining a position as night watchman at a local hotel, and for a while this work enabled him to keep his wife and child. Owing to a few days’ illness he lost his position, and could not obtain another. His small stock of money ran out, and the family did not know where to look for their next meal. Here, again, was a case for charity. Another case was related wherein a woman with eleven children had lost her husband, and the family had been reduced to utter poverty. There were numbers of instances of women with families of eight or nine young children, and with so little money coming in that help was essential from time to time. In numbers of cases three or' four children were sleeping in one bed, huddled together for warmth, with hardly sufficient bedding for even one child. The above are instances of cases in which the coal and blanket provision of firing and bedding for these destitute families enables what, little money they have to be spent on food, and clothing, especially for the children.

It Is during the winter months that assistance is most necessary, and money is urgently needed for the fund. Every case is carefully inquired into, and personally investigated by the committee before a grant is made, and assistance can be given only in cases of absolute necessity. Thus not a penny of the fund is wasted. It is hoped that the public of Timaru will respond generously to the Mayor’s appeal on Friday next.