A WONDERFUL SPIRIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1922, Page 10

A WONDERFUL SPIRIT.

VIENNA’S EXAMPLE. Writing from Vienna about the relief work accomplished by the citizens for their own people, a resident shows what a wonderful spirit, of helpfulness and self-sacrifice there is among most of the people there. Figures show that»every inhabitant of Vienna, whether young or old, contributes an annual share of almost 800 kronen for welfare purposes. To this must be added another 125 millions which the city of- Vienna has got to contribute to the upkeep of human itarian institutions of the province of Lower Austria. Altogether about 62,000 persons are being provided for by this city, either completely or in part. Another big expense the city bears is the daily transports of the meals given out by the American Children’s Relief Work, from the central kitchens to the numerous distributing centres all over Vienna. Other relief works include help ito soldiers in private institutions which dispose of great sums of money. The writer after detailing other expenditures provided for, says:—This must be considered as the downright heroic achievement of a people which has now lived for years under the unbearable pressure of ever-increasing prices; which is falling more and more a prey to misery, and among which all the outward investigations to charity, effective in former times, as orders and badges, titles, etc., have ceased to exist. The reproach of disloyalty is justly applied only to the comparatively small circle of war-profiteers, who for the very reason that their wealth has been brought about by their recklessly availing themselves of the misery of their co-citizens, can scarcely be expected to have a sense of social duty and compassion. The greater part of the population is doing its duty, and even more.