POOR OLD PARENTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 137, 1 February 1908, Page 6

POOR OLD PARENTS.

' The Duties of Children. The -neglect of children, to .'support 'Ifcheir parents m their .declining years is an unfortunate condition of our social liife, but it is no worse m Christchurch than anywhere else. The reason why little, if anything, is ipaid, is that the sons have, got mara:ied, have a houseful of kids to keep, (their work is perhaps of an abominably intermittent character, and that perhaps the old folks— or a great many of them— have got the old age pension, and they should try and eke out a sad' and sorry, existence on that. But ten bob a week won't tceep anybody m these days of luxurious rents and lavish prices for Ifche product of the butcher and the dough man, and others who litter the S.indscape with tucker. It is a pitiable thing to see an ill-dressed woman m a destitute condition, old and unable to work much. = But itbat was ?Lhe picture presented, by Susannah Campbell at . Christfchurch Magistrate's Court. - She n fras summoning her son Colin for means of support, and he wrote, -offering her half-a-crown » week, which looker! small, but as four other "brothers were contributing three bob a wpel' each, the S.M. letit fro at that, and made the order, as the yown-g felluw -isn't earning- much screw. ' T A widow m black, aged 55, named SBar/Ji Steelc, wanted HER FLAXEN-HAIRED BOY,' William, to support her. It appeartiCi that Billy, who is. only 17 years of age. is -*'<i present working hi Dladdern's rope works .>».*, sets Jvs !

6d a week". He tried to convince the Bench that if he paid 12s 6d a week board -he had only 4s 6d left, and the S.M." said that if his evidence was as reliable as his • arithmetic it wasn't worth much. The young fellow didn't know what his prospects were, and the Bench remarked, "I suppose you are getting all you are worth," a sally, that gave rise to laughter. The mother had only earned a quid a year nursing, being kept by her son-in-law. The lady volunteered the information that her fair-haired boy could be earning more than 17s 6d a week. He was getting £1 at Manning's brewery, and would have £1 5s by this time hut he got blind, horrible drunk (fancy a lad *of seventeen getting boozed up !), and got fighting, and then got the sack. If the lad lived with her and gave her his spons life would be worth living. "There are other sons, and the S.M. advised her to have a cut at them ; he , couldn't compel the lad to live with her. As young Steel couldn't buy a motor-car on his insignificant pocket money no order was made against him. So now the Charitable Aid Board's, office pocket may be dipped into. .