BEGGARS WITH CARS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18165, 1 November 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

BEGGARS WITH CARS.

AMAZING CONFESSION. Astonishing revelations regarding the wiles of professional beggars are contained in a letter received by the Liverpool "coroner (Mr G. Cecil Mort) from a man giving an address in South-east Londop. Recently Mr Mort held an inquest on a beggar who left behind a note throwing light on his earnings. The letter begins by referring to the coroner’s comments as “not without grounds,” and to the accuracy of the suicide’s revelations. It continues: “I am at the same game myself, and have been since I left work in 1920. It is far better than work. At first I felt It degrading, but when people told me that I was too old when I went after work I had to do something. So a mate told me to stand with matches. I have had just over £3 in just over an hour. Then I have stood pretending to play an instrument. Now I am with a street band—drums, cornets, etc. Street bands’ tricks are the worst of the lot. First they have "ex-Service men” on their boxes. Then they have “miners" printed on the boxes. The latest fad is, “We are out of an engagement because of the talkies.” They go all over the country wearing uniforms and travelling about in their own motor-cars. I know some musicians w'ho have never been at work since they left the industrial school where they learned the cornet. Others have left good jobs to play in the streets.”

The writer goes on to refer to musicians in regular employment who supplement their incomes by playing at public-houses during the weekend, and “who grumble if they do not take £5." Poor people, the writer adds, do not know to whom they are giving their hard-earned pennies. “There are not many working men who can live like us,” he concluded. “We get up what time we like, live on (lie best,'-and always have money in our pockets, i could write a lot on the way the generous public is swindled."