Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 2

This) is the season of the year when the pinch of poverty is felt more than at any other time. And this happens to he a year when times are particularly hard. Matty are out of work, and others have hut irregular and uncertain occupation, and all must be more or less feeling the pinch. Those engaged in laborious occupations must he finding the times difficult. With irregular wages and reduced wages, it is not surprising to hear of cases of want in our midst. We have referred to this matter, and the contingent efforts iiefore, hut owing to the s'unip conditions there seems more necessity than ever to again broach the subject. For the case of the women and children in particular there is the need for some benevolent aid and some regular enquiry as to the plight of some families Too proud to beg is not a fault, it is often characteristic of our people. It is to such cases in particular we would direct attention. Tn former times there was an organisation such as the Women’s Benevolent Society which went about doing an immense amount of good. The good work was done quietly—as it should he—and was wel 1 done. It is not a pleasant thing to think of young, growing children going to lied hungry and cold. Something should be done to prevent such a state of things coming to pass. In various centres there are sjiecial organisations to see to these matters, and to afford prompt relief. Wo have occasion to believe such an organisation is necessary here. Certain duties are cast on the Hospital Board in these matters, and though tlie <lr/ 6we attended to in an official way, the Board waits for the cases to come to it before acting. It has not an officer or official visitors to see to the extreme cases we have in mind. Considering the rigor of the winter and the conditions generally, which mean shortened employment and earning power, the time is here to go out and meet the position by setting up an organisation to rare for tlie immediate necessities of the very poor. Wo commend this matter to the official Board, to tlie Mayor, to the Clergy and all who have some inside knowledge of the facts, and suggest there should b? a public move to see thq.t everything in reason is done and that no reproach will he at the door of the community as a whole for any misadventure which might arise through failure to act in the matter.