WANT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 11

WANT

A STARK SPECTRE I NEW CLASS OF POOR WHAT THE ARMY IS DOING WELLINGTON. June 2. ; General unemployment has brought about more privation than thu.se still at work rea.at. because amongst the idle to-day are thousands who have! never previously been unable to pay, i heir way, and whose pride prevents them from asking assistance from any; of the recognised channels. Just as in ; most Homes it is the wife who goes, without for the sake of her family, so| it is in this instance, and though every i man has his proper share of pride, it ' is the woman who most dreads the) world knowing that her home lacks the necessaries of life. It will come as a j shock to some comfortably situated • people to hear that daily there come, to hand instances of investigations car-1 ried out on the kindly information of neighbours, disclosing that in quite a! number of homes there is neither furniture, bedding, nor food. Furniture Buys Food The first inquiry that is made is naturally how people get like that. The answer is that pride has prevented them from asking for assistance until they have sold their furnishings for food. These are not the people who demand to bo kept by a paternal State to which they contribute nothing, and they are of a very different stamp from those who, with resources of their own. husband them and live on charity rather than encroach on their own funds. This also may seem incredible to some, but everybody engaged in relief work knows that there are such dishonest people, just as there are those who demand single rooms at such hostels as the Salvation Arniys, and are quite nasty when thev do not get them. In an interview with Salvation Army officers it was made plain that a very serious position has arisen with regard to destitute families, people who have become so through no fault of their own, and whose condition is almost invariably brought to light by the sympathy of neighbours. Apart from providing food and meals, the Salvation Army in Wellington during the month of April gave shelter and food to 800 people. The total number of people assisted in many ways in April was 2123. Four hundred people are being housed and fed in Wellington by the Army. It is the work of the Samaritan Officer, who goes to homes, and deals with a class of people very different from those who seek charitable aid, which throws the most vivid light on the position. These hide their poverty and are surprised when visited, yet some arc in the direst straits. One woman with a six-weeks-old baby had had nothing to eat for two days, and was feeding her baby on warm water. Last week there were discovered two families with eleven children, turned out on the street from their houses. Temporary accommodation was found for them until something more suitable could bo done. Family distress is the most difficult to deal with, as it is often impossible to keep the family together. The men are then sent to the shelters, and the women and children have to be taken in at the People's Palace. Instances of destitute families occur every day, and where it is possible they are maintained in their homes, but in most cases both bod and cupboard are bare. From twenty to thirty families a day are visited by the Samaritan Officer, who during a week relieves some 300 people. Never Poor Before It is only necessary to go round some of the Army depots and shelters to realise that poverty has struck a class of people it has never before affected in New Zealand. At headquarters at the Samaritan office will be found anything from 25 women and children up wards, calling for vegetables, meat, and other food. The number in the room remains about the same, as others come as fast as the first are dealt with. They are grateful for anything, and one of the greatest needs is clothing. The reserves of clothing are pitifully lons . It is taxing the resources of the Salvation Army severely to meet tho posi tion. The amount of distress and actual want is unparalleled in its New Zealand experience, and, like many other bodies, it is finding that many of its most regular contributors of money, food, and clothing hitherto are either out of work themselves, or are in such straitened circumstances that they can no longer contribute anything. Tho demand is greater, and the contributions are fewer. Soon the Army will be hard pressed to assist all who are in need. Both Commissioner Cunningham and Brigadier Macaulay impressed on the Post representative their ui gent need for warm clothing. Though there is little picturesque or fanciful in tho accommodation provided at the shelters in Buckle Street and Vivian Street, where there arc over 150 men, it is scrupulously clean. Each bed is separate, and provided with clean sheets, a mattress, and plenty of bedding, and a towel. It has not yet been found necessary to put men on the floor. The charge made for those who can pay is 25s a week. Others live free. The meals are adequate and wholesome, and some attempt is made in the rooms to sort out the unfortunate from those whose troubles arc largely of their own making, the lowest rung being a chamber specially fitted to put up rowdy drunken derelicts for the night. There is nothing to break, but the bedding is clean and ample.