ASSISTING THE NEEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 June 1932, Page 4

ASSISTING THE NEEDY.

By its preparedness to help those in distress, Masterton has shown that its heart is right. The various local organisations and churches have combined to meet a situation which is unprecedented in the history of Masterton, and in these circumstances, no one who is “up against itthrough unemployment or misfortune should "o in want. The benefit lodges in Masterton have been for some time “carrying” those members whom unemployment has hit very hard, and assisting them in every possible manner; other organisations have been helping the poor and needy in a manner that demonstrates the warmth of that fellow feelinsr which makes the whole world kin. The danger lies in the imposition which will be practised, and this will require to be rigidly guarded against. It is to be regretted that there are persons in Masterton who are trading on the_ sympathies of the charitably inclined, and it is for that reason that many residents prefer to investigate cases themselves and to attend to them personally, rather than bring them under the notice of local organisations. Some of the latter have later heard of these cases and offered them help, but to the credit of those assisted the position that they were receiving assistance was made clear. Such cases should be left to the individuals to deal with who first took them under their wing. Deception is still being practised by a certain class in its appeal for assistance, and an organisation, while having every sympathy for those who are genuinely in need of help, should not allow itself to be imposed upon.