HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1892, 19 October 1918, Page 4

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES.

AX AUCKLAND PICTURE,

“I want a suit for my husband,” said ll)c tired little woman with a small baby in her arms. The attendant rose to I lie occasion. ‘‘How big is ho': Is he as big as I am? J and immediately an armful of suits' came forward. Each was done tip in a tidy bundle just as they had been sent in to the depot of the Army Hut Fund, which is engaged in selling second-hand clothes for the benefit of the soldiers at the front. 'The depot is under the charge of Major dfurgin, who is honorary secretary. Each week a different parish supplies the workers, and helps with the clothes. When the depot opened at 2 o'clock on Friday of last week there was a crowd that stretched across the pavement to the street, and surged into the little simp till fully titty people were wedged into the small space behind the counter. All were very polite und ( patient, hut it was pathetic to see the look of eager interest on the buyers’ faces as they leant across the counter. Mostly the customers were mothers of families. It was a scene that ought 10 si like shame to every New Zealander thav such tilings should he. “1 will take lids one,” said a mother, and (in a whisper) “pay si.\pencc.” The garment was marked at the gigantic sum of half-a-crown. Yet this poor mother could not pay even that at once. Wiica her husband came home on Friday night will) ids wages he would smie and settle. Inquiries elicited Ihe fact Ilia! on Friday evening 1 tie simp does a big business with men’s sec-ond-hand suits which have been given and are sold to men who are looking for <doih.es. This is a remarkable comment upon the prosperity of lids Dominion at the present time when, in oilier shops, sets of night-wear are marked as high as £lO, and liud ready sale, in conversation with, the Kev. Burgm, 11 was staled that the majority of the garments were sold lo mothers of families of six and seven children, who are trying lo keep them respectable on a wage of £2 .IDs t< £3 a week. So keen are the buyers that some even come from Takapitna, holding that it pays them lo obtain second-hand clothes t.hal they know are clean. All the aflerrmoi (he business goes on. When one 10l Ims been served, they are gentb asked lo let Ihe olheis in for ; chance, and the customers arc s<_ gcnllc and well-behaved, looking oi their struggle wild stoical good hu nmur. Only at intervals the insult ed voice of some poor baby wail: out a protest ut being horn into i country where nil that can be offer cd him is oilier people’s cast-ol clothes, and his goggle eyes look al armed out at (lie future which i; beginning so dimly for Ids sum! soul. Between 5 and b there is j lull, and then the sale begins wit di lie rent customers. The great de maud is for hoots. “But how <h they know if I hey will lit ?” “01 they just guess it." says an allend anl, and the eager look on one smal woman's face seems (o say dial an, hmds are heller (ban no bools. Th demand is chiefly for good cas(-ol children's (dollies and men’s Irons ers, hut women’s coals and skirl are also eagerly bought up. Ear week the ladies in charge id.' I In; sell ing change, l>u 1 Mrs Hui'gin goe neck by week so dial someone ma, be there who has a knowledge o prices, ami also dial no dealer shall be supplied, for (he clolhc are being sold as far as possible t< those whose need is greatest.— Star.