CHARITY AT HOME.

Wairarapa Age, 20 March 1929, Page 5

CHARITY AT HOME.

PROPOSAL FOE DONATION TURNED DOWN. MINERS' DISTRESS FUND. At last night’s meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, Councillor H. H. Daniell moved that the council vote a sum of £l9 to the Prince of Wales’s miners’ distress fund. He stated that the council might set an example to other local bodies in New Zealand and the British Dominions. New Zealand was very largely dependent on the Old Country, and he thought that she should help it in some way, if possible. The motion was seconded by Councillor C. H. Anderson and supported by Councillor H. M. Peacock.

Councillor A. Rippon said that if anything wanted to be done it should be done in their own town. The Distress Committee last year realised the amount of distress that existed in the town then. He was opposed to any money going on of the town, when it could be spent here. The Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan), said that he entirely agreed with Councillor Rippon. Councillor Rippon and himself knew the number of mouths that they were feeding Masterton last winter, the number reaching up to 130. Charity must begin at home, said Mr. Jordan. They must be prepared to put their hands in their pockets and even use Borough funds to relieve distress in Masterton. Mr. Jordan, however, was sympathetic towards the Old Country. Councillor A. Fletcher: “Charity should not be confined to home.”

The Mayor: “It has not started.” Mr. Jordan proceeded to state that the council had not yet given anything towards the relief of distress or unemployment. The ratepayers had not been called upon at all.

Councillor Daniell maintained that the quickest way to cure unemployment here was to end unemployment in the Old Country.

After further discussion, the motion was put to the council, the voting being equal, five for and five against. The Mayor gave his casting vote against the motion.