DISTRESS IN FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4531, 15 November 1930, Page 3

DISTRESS IN FOXTON.

“WIAR CRY’S” ALARMING STATEMENT. .

The following statement appeared in this week’s issue of the “War Cry”, in reference to distress in Eoxton;. —

“YVle are kept really busy taking help to destitute families,” writes Ensign Smith, of Easton corps. “The bakers give me all the bread, buitsj, and cakes they can spare, the green-grocers all (lie vegetables, the grocers the bacon ends, and those who are in better circumstances, are sending in parcels of jam, eggs, sugar, and some, milk, so that we are. kept busy delivering the same. Recently the nurse in one house had In lake the frock off an older child to wrap round a newly-born infant; nothing else could he found.

“Another mother had been wrapping her two children in a blanket (one and live years of age), and leaving them on the river bank at 3 a.in., while she I vied lo get enough whitebait to give them food the next day. One family of nine children, the youngest a baby of 7 weeks old, have been living on less than £1 per week. Another family of 7 children, the oldest eleven years and a baby three months old, have been living on 14/- per week. “The poverty is terrible here, and what will happen if the mills do not slart soon I do not know.

“However, we are doing our best and are trying to show the people the practical (Christ —the Christ who will not fail them or let. them want the necessities of life. It is so little we can do, but we are striving to do that little.”

ENSIGN SMITH INTERVIEWED.

STATEMENT' NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

Our representative interviewed Ensign Smith this morning re the above and she expressed disapproval of the contents of a personal letter to headquarters being published. She explained that a “target” was set each district for the collection of self-denial funds. Owing to unemployment iu the Eoxton district, she explained that it was impossible to reach the “target” set for local collection and gave some details of local distress which hud been brought under her notice. Ensign Smith staled further that the majority of smses were in receipt of charitable aid and every case she had submitted for relief to the Hospital Board representative had been assisted, and further assistance lmd been given from other sources. In the case of the Jack of clothes for a new-born baby, she had been informed of this as happening about three months ago and there was another side to this story. In reference to the woman who had taken her children to the river bank while she caught whitebait, it was certainly a case of disI ress, but it was not uncommon for women to go whitebaiting, but there was no necessity for taking the children, or to go herself as

her husband was quite capable of pursuing. this avocation. The Ensign submitted the names of several families whom she had visited, all of whom were receiving relief, and in all cases a ready response was made to appeals on I heir behalf.