COAL AND BLANKET FUND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 2 July 1924, Page 6

COAL AND BLANKET FUND.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.’ ’ Sir.—l read wilffi mucn appreciation 'the letter, written by “iUotner ot 'ion” in the “Herald,’’ on the subject of the Coal and Blanket Eund, and i heartily endorse the sentiments siie expressed. . i think hqr suggestion about tbe school children a most .sensible ' one, and worthy of being, taken into consideration and caiTieu , out by tnose m authority. In connection with the same idea, would -it not be .a .splendid heip if the sewings classes, especially those t iu the hignei-fstandards, instead of making pieces of fancy work, were given . little plain sensible garments "to sew at, those whose circumstances allowed contributing the material, and all ./assisting in tne sewing. It would provide a fluid of clothes upon winch the teachers could draw at their discretion' to supplement the clothing of such as they found in need of help in this direction, and at the same time it would be teaching the girls to make really useful'.articles, an abcomphsnment whicn would seyvf them more in the future than learning how to make merely ornamental things. 1 quite agree with “Mother of Ten” that more cnscnmi nation might be exercised by the dispensers ot the charity (after all is it charity, since we all .contribute through collections, concerts etc. f) of the Coal, and’..Blanket Eund. I myself; know of one. case where tlio applicant was supplied with both ai- : tides, and the visiting member of the ccmmitree did not even ask to inspect the blankets, ot which there was an ample sulheieuoy. Another case where there, was’ only one pair of blankets, threadbare and worn to tatters after ten years wear, between a family of fairly big children of mixed sexes (ne eessftating two beds) and coal, an almost unknown quantity, was hurriedly refused just prior to the big collection taken on the 13th. In this case a per j son of refinement was very much hurt and humiliated, as she had only made ] the application alter much hesitation | and shrinking, rather than see her children' freeze during the winter. Another case mentioned in the. paper recently, was, no doubt, a necessitous enough case, but why introduce an eighth im aginary child where seven is the number, and a superfluous case of consumption to make the case look more needy P Perhaps the Mayor’s charity is dispensed according to the size of the families, but three or four children can feel the cold just as keenly as seven or eight, and then there were cases among those assisted where there was only ono small child, and another where blankets were given two years running. These are only a few cases. Doubtless there are many more, showing that the help does not always reach those most in need, while being granted to others in less straitened circumstances. Hoping some 1 pen more adequate than mine, may take this subject up, and keep it going for the good of thoso of the' ; community who are really in want. —I am, etc. ANOTHER MOTHER.