A HUMANE NECESSITY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 48, 22 August 1894, Page 2

A HUMANE NECESSITY.

Now that the district is swarming with swaggers, men on the tramp, looking for work, or not looking for it as the case may be, it is within our knowledge that the inhabitants who possess sheds, outhouses, or lofts, find that they are frequently used as sleeping shelters ; and so long as no mischief is done few care to order the men away to sleep in such inclement weather as we have been having lately. But such good nature, especially where there is hay or straw, is at the risk of fire from a careless smoker. The decent men creep into these eleemosy nary sleeping places after dusk, and out again at daylight, only too thankful not to be seen (as they think), and it only the professional tramp,s or loafers, who beg for the food which they could obtain independently by the exercise of a little labor. It has been suggested by a gentleman in the town that a travellers' shelter ought to be provided in the shape of a weathertight room with standing bunks, a few forms, and a fireplace. He is willing to head a subscription list for that purpose, conditionally that the local authorities will assist in lending a site. We highly approve of the idea and commend it as both benevolent and genuinely good policy. We shall be happy to receive the names of such as will lend a Hand for so desirable an object.