POVERTY AND CHRISTMAS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 425, 23 December 1911, Page 7

POVERTY AND CHRISTMAS.

To the Editor. Sir,- —Will you allow me to make an appeal for the poor. Considering the unusual propserity which New Zea'and enjoys it is remarkable that we should have poor, nor should we have to any extent but for the drinking habits of a section of our people. I am not concerned to alleviate the suffering which the drunkard brings on himself or herself. My anxiety is for the innocent dependents who are brought to want because of the weakness or carelessness of the ones who fail to shoulder their proper responsibility. Poor women! Poor children! Unless, altruism prompts some to come _to their assistance the coming of Christmas will be a sorry time for some of them. As I write I think of a woman and her six children who are enduring poverty and neglect. The father's industry and love at one time made in the home an atmosphere of prosperity and contentment, but he took to drink and now the domestic atmosphere is frigid with want and care. There will not be any Christmas spirit in that home except such as the generosity of your readers enaoles me to take. Some of these women are trying to work out their own salvation. One of splendid character whom I have known and admired for years played a heroic part in the recent election. The closing of the hotel oar is her only hope of domestic and social salvation. She washes and chars during each day to maintain her home and respectability and during the evenings whcih preceded the poll, sometimes contending with drenching rain, she canvassed her friends and neighbours to vote her salvation. On election night she cried herself to sleep because the effort to else the hotel bars had been in vain, in consequence of which the future of herself and her children is still menaced by the unspeakable horrors of a drunkard's home. My Christmas will be given to carrying cheer and help to such places and I urgently ask your readers to send ma the tokens of their love to carry with me. We need clothing, boots, food, money, etc. Will tbo3e who will help please communicate with the treasurer of our social funds, Mr H.E. Pacey, care New Zealand Dairy Association, Wellesley street, Auckland, or with yours truly, Sister Kenneth, Auckland Methodist Mission, with which is incorporated the Helping Hand Mis- ' sion, Rose road, Grey Lynn.