A DISTRESSING PICTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1922, Page 5

A DISTRESSING PICTURE.

LIMBLESS SOLDIERS BEGGING. IN STREETS OF SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, May 12. The city is over-run by returned soldiers’ bands at every street corner. The public are exploited by limbless and maimed soldiers pushing collection boxes under people’s noses. The public outcry against what is regarded as a scandal resulted in the Lord Mayor informing the Limbless Soldiers’ Association that only two or three bands would be allowed in the streets. The police will be empowered to remove the rest. Also collections will be controlled, the men being allowed so much weekly, the balance going to the association’s funds. The Lord Mayor states that he ascertained that the men refused to enter a hostel or accept Red Cross assistance, because good money was tn be made by begging at the street corners. He learned that limbless men were being hired from Melbourne and elsewhere at £4 weekly to collect in the Sydney streets. Received May 12. 7.15 p.m. Sydney, May 12.

Referring to the Lord Mayor’s action in clearing the streets of soldiers’ bands, the president of the nimbless Soldiers Association writes that most of these men have honestly endeavored to get work of .'an ordinary cjharaietar, Ibut failed and because of their non-success they are now acting as collectors for soldiers’ bands. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.