HELPING THE DISTRESSED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 11

HELPING THE DISTRESSED.

MRS. HELEN BARTON. ; Thoso who have heard Mrs.- Helen Barton speak from tho platform during the last two or three evenings in Wellington, must have wished for a closer acquaintance with her than that offered by public addresses. .Whether they agreed with the causa for which she was fighting (and most of them, it would seem, did), or whether they did not, her wide tolerance, and sympathy with the failings of human nature,' her keen sense of humour, her sincerity, and her thorough knowledge of what, sho was talking about, did not fail to win their interest and appreciation. Not only is Jlrs. Barton a temperance worker, but she is a humanitarian who has strained every nerve and every fibre of strength for the cause of those who have gone under in tho battle of life at Home, of those who spend their time wandering in and out of gaol, and of those who are beginning their career under the most difficult and disadvantageous circumstances. Her late husband, parish councillor Barton, was, in tho seventies, tho

see how the system worked here. By the Children's Charter, the council has power to punish parents who shirk their responsibilities towards their children. I'jvidently Nemesis does not sleep in the city of Glasgow. A great work has been accomplished in connection with infant mortality in the city. At first a little band of twenty women devoted their energies to "the black spot" of Glasgow, risitiii" from house to house, advising the mothers when the babies were sick, caring for them and helping in every way they possibly could. Before they started work', the mortality had reached an extremely higli rale, but nfler a time this had been tremendously reduced. The work has now become extended, and fully -tlifl women visit Iho homes of the poor, much good work being accomplished. Another latter-day problem that had been attacked was the unemployed difficulty. At one time the number uf those out of work varied from 800 to several thousands, and the destitution was appalling. The Borough Distress Committee,