A RELIEF WORKERS STORES?

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 7

A RELIEF WORKERS STORES?

; (To the Editor.) Sir, —I r ain a mother of five. My husband.is- ,bn' reliief work. We do not-want 'charity. Admittedly the country, needs; us \ to; sacrifice at the present time,' but we are not going to sacrifice our children: .Whatl are the future New' Zealand men and'women going :■ to;be like it the children, are under-nourished at the most.important period of. their lives? I ■ myself have - one little one ■ suffer ing from malnutrition, and any; right-thinking person knows that such a child,heeds more than the relief is able to provide. There are hundreds t>i such children, and will-be if this is allowed .to'go.' on; There .are certainly-some people who would 'never be satisfied. -All-I ask is a chance to keep my family, decently that they may .grow up to be a credit .to New- Zealand, and not poor miserable beings having to'be helped through life by; charitable institutions.' Is it possible to do that on £2 4s per week? (that is ithree and.a half days' xelief work,- pay- rent, firing, lighting, clothes, boots,-and food .for.seven).- There are surely more' mothers feeling the same as myself. Cannot; something :be'i suggested? Could not the relief workers have a store? That is one suggestion. Surely, food could be obtained, cheaper that - way. "i The Government could .buy for the -workers, and on production- of their labour, cards let them I obtain1 groceries at cost or: near that. This would not;,be ■. charity, ■ We' mothers do I not want' peoplejs. bldi clothes, ■ It is degrading.- We want to buy. our. owu and attlie same time help ■ trade and so help our land.that rvve are in'bu'd.of. I.am.notl a Communist,'but just".a Another slipwinc -.tmr.-position, and- there afirhundreds" of 6thers cthe same'.—l..am,,etc."i'. : °'

■WORRIED.