AGAINST THE WALL. AGAINST THE WALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 565, 21 July 1909, Page 2

AGAINST THE WALL.

CROWD AT BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES. BRAVI? WOMEN AND DISJECTED MEN,. Tho landing of tho Benevolont Trustees'office was crowded, with man and' women seeking relief when tho board met yesterday afternoon. Thby wore ai very. "dovm-at-hoels'V. collcction. Tlio men wero almost all strangers to ono another, and a Dominion ropresenta-; tive who talked to them learned that a fair proportion, wero approaching tho trusties for tho first time, They'all.'told the.same story; work was unobtainable, oxccpt in snatches of a few days at a time, which hardly brought j sufficient pay to satisfy tho landlord., Soma of, t/hom had boon on tbo relief works,. but those wore just sufficient, in the present weather, to keep tho wolf a few yardß from., tho door. Ono man had worked two day» of tho wet week, and had now to give place to the members of a new relay, though tbo 18s. he had oarnod was not enough. to pay tho rent. Man who professed to bo - able and ready to "do anything" declared that they could not find work of any sort in tho city, and they were asking' the trustees to 1 assist them with their train' fares, to' pro-' vincial towns. "You can't walk: over, tho llimutakas in this weather," said ono man. It was stated that the system of giying pro*: ferenoCj.to married men bore very hardly on. tho singlo men, who had to live somienow, Somo'of tho men had don© hardly any work' since. March.' Ono felt more sorry for the--women, several of whom _ had children in their arms, or at their aide—children who smiled and chuckled, as -if the outing wer« a treat.

•Tho usual tales of hardship ■ were told te the trustees when the applicants for relief entered tho board room, ono by one, in r»sponso to the palling of their names. Little doles of cash and coals and rations were promised in each case, Just enongh to' keep the snarling, cniffing wolf outside. Some of the'women were brave; the, board'* inspector called them "plucky" and "hardworking". when their names were mentidned, and their quiet stories and behaviour when they faced the trustees confirmed this good opinion. "My husband is hoping to, get wotk to-morrow," said ono womanvriih a baby. "After this I think that we 'eaa inaa. age." Husbands with cut hands and internal injuries that' would not let them work wero inocssant in the'women's stories. Babies that were sick in who knows what' wratcbed tenements wero inquired about by the trustees. "The wife is out doing her work," said a male invalid who appeared in person, "and with a bit of help I think that we can do." 'The lady member.of the board was_ visibly distressed by' several of tfcese" stories, and asked repeatedly if something more could not be; done by tho board. Bnt the 'lesson of "by little abd by little'' » nowhere so much appreciated as by members of these philanthrojpic institutions. Aftei a few months of their hardening experiences, it 'comes quite easily to a man' who has dined well and slept soft all bis life to speakof 3s. spent on'foody as if it were an inexhaustible provision: and to . agree completely, with the wonian who receives 7s. 6d: a week on which to live, and who would never need to take her- poverty to tie board, she-says,, if only came'in regularly.; Bat if such' institutions were too lavish the applicants who filled "tho landing yesterdays might cause a block of traffic in tne street. . The meeting was attended by Mr. J.. Smith' (chairman), Miss M. E. Richmond, Messrs. A. W. Hoggj'M.P.,.D; Robertson, H.- Cook, 11. Short, and D. P. Loasby. A gift of two tons of coal from Mr. A. Levy.was acknowledged with thanks. .- It was reported that the -inmates of- theObiro Homo totalled 114 (85 males and 29 females). - ' •' ■ -