THE CLAIMS OF THE POOR.

Oxford Observer, Volume 1, Issue IV, 7 September 1889, Page 5

THE CLAIMS OF THE POOR.

**' It is no* possible for one man to'read all the papers that appear from day to* day m this Colony; we find it so by experience, hence something really good escapes our searching vision. We have a <iase m point : our Nelson contemporary, The Colonist, reprints a letter from The Pr«KS,''with the sentiments of which we so thoroughly a<»ree, that we are almost tempted to reproduce it again. Tlie famous Dr "Barnardo is a moat persevering beggar, only 1 st week we received.a circular, elaborately printed and illustrated, a species of report, and a printed envelope," asking for: aid for the Doctor's Home for "Destitute Children m London. Mnjch as we sympathise with his philanthropy, we hold, with our contemporary, that " Charity begins at home," . and our home is New Zealand, not England. 'We/ h%ve t cbnstant appealsto our benevolence'" from bur fellow-colonists, on "whose behalf w;e cannot afford to print and publish sensational memoirs and illustrated tales on tinted paper. Our hungry unemployed have illustrated there history with a black flag and death's head and crossed bone_. ; We should like to see that : flag furled for ever. One word^more on Dr Barnardo, and we have done V We strongly object to the principle be enunciates, of making these Colonies the dumping-ground for allj^he _if tings and scrapings of paup_riecpg mstitutions m England. Our poor _*■> already -.*'■ drifting too much m that direction, and we do not want young men and women or youths of either sex sent here, whoße early training tnu_t naturally lead them to believe that charitable aid is their birthright, and natural inheritance.