HELPING THE NEEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 3, 28 June 1911, Page 3

HELPING THE NEEDY.

WHAT GLASGOW HAS ACHIEVED. The ciLy of Glasgow is rapidly becoming an example of the world in iU endeavor to ameliorate the condition.! in which men strive to maintain their existence. The administration of relief for the unemployed, the conduct of public hospitals, and the prosecution of .similar humanitarian measures, are the functions of a parish council of .'JI members, l'or ten years Mrs. Helen Barton has ueen a member of the council, and she has spent 15 months in Australia, and will devote several months to New Zealand, studying the social conditions and the social legislation of the colonies. ' When Mr. Keir Hardie returned from his visit to New Zealand," Mrs. Barton remarked to a reporter, ' tie declared that New Zealand had the most advanced legislation in the world. I' intend to make careful observations during my visit to the Dominion, and I hope to gain ] information that will he of value when 1 resume my work in Glasgow." The Otegow Parish Council, Mrs, Barton explained, had a generous share of responsibilities. The population of the city and its suburbs hsid grown to a million and a-half, and it was the duty tjie Council, equipped by funds raised by its own rating powers, to care for the poor who had fallen by the way, manage hospitals and poor houses, deal wiui the "ins aim outs," the men who divided their lives between the prison and the poor house, and in times of stress relieve the unemployed and those dependent upon them. State boardedout children and widows with young families were a special charge upon the Council. It provided for the maintenance of the mothers, so that they had no need to work, but could devote themselves to the cire of their children. It safeguarded the interests of the poor children by ensuring a training for them in useful callings, and by that means the supply of recruits to the ranks of the unemployed, larrikins was being checked. The Children's Cnarter had investe'd the cowled with power to punish parents who shirked their responsibilities towards their children. "The Parish Council," Airs. Barton explained, "eares for the lives of the people. Its function is essentially humanitarian." Speaking of the results achieved in Glasgow, Airs. Barton said that in three years the infantile mortality had been halved, as a result of tile supervision of the little children by a band of about 400 women. In their visits to the homes of the poor people, the workers in that branch of the Council's activity found many sources for helpful work, and much good work was being done. The problem of the unemployed had been vigorous'y approached. The Borough Distress Committee purchased an (state of 500,000 acres of apparently barren land, and the ( labor of hundreds of the unemployed had ' developed surprising l'iehes from it. The | committee had been greatly handicapped by the condition attaching to the Government grants, that only men of good character should be given assistance. It was found that 85 per cent, of the unemployed, who at one time numbered 21000,! Nad bad records. But most gratifying results had attended the efforts of the committee. Working in the open, 20 miles.from a public-hou?e, starved, emaci-ated-men had gained health nnd strength, and had ueen able to earn their own and their families' livelihood.