Genteel Poverty

NZ Truth, Issue 1174, 31 May 1928, Page 6

Genteel Poverty

"M Z, THJJTH'S" recent article dealing *.* with the McLean Institute, and the manner m which the daughter of the man who made it possible has been treated, gave rise to a large amount of discussion and debate. Many people are asking: "Why a home for gentlewomen?". And: "What are gentlewomen?" ' ,

This is a young country;; Its resources have been sadly depleted by the woeful way m which the overflow of England has been dumped on its shores. Because of this, it has more than a nodding acquaintance with poverty — and people getting on m years are hit hardest of all. '■ '

Among the old folk struggling along are the fine old colonists who faced the privations of a new country. They have fallen on bad times. Their only "resource is the Home for Old People — another way ' of saying "poorhouse." They are merely "old women." Had they been "indigent gentlewomen" — people who have never worked and whose poverty is often the result of their own' extravagances— these dear old creatures would have been candidates for the luxuries 6t the McLean Institute, a place that may only be described as a palace. ' v There's something wrong when such distinctions are allowed m a country that is supposed to be the home of democracy.