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Joyspreaders Unlimited

How Radio Helped the Smith Family to Provide a Brighter Christmas for Four Thousand People

"WN want 200 ‘goodfellows’ of Wellington to provide cheer for 200 , families that are in desperate need. Do not send us money; send us your name and we shall send you the name and address of a deserving vase for which you can provide Christmas cheer. You will attend to Je case personally and see where your money or gifts actually go. Just send your name to Mr. Smith, 2ZW, Wellington." This appeal was broadcast by Station 2ZW, Wellington, only ten days before Christmas. Thus the great Smith family movement was launched and immediately set about its work of alleviating the distress in the city. The man who brought the idea to Wellington, though a well-known business man, prefers to remaii behind the soubriquet of Mr. Smith. Recently, when in Sydney, he saw parcels being distributed to the poor, and, becoming interested, made further inquiries. He learned that the Smith family has been flourishing there for eight years and has grown into a huge organisation for succouring families in distress. People who volunteer their services take under their personal care one or perhaps more deserving cases-usually childrenand tend for them, providing those extras that mean all the difference between life and a pitiful existence, or perhaps even death. The success of the scheme can be set down largely to personal contact and the sinking of the benefactor’s identity behind the name of the Smith family. After his return to Wellington, Mr. Smith, who was convinced that some such organisation should be operating in New Zealand, happened to be listening to 2ZW making an appeal for 200 shillings to help the Mayor’s fund. Immediately he made an offer to provide £200 if his scheme could be put into operation. It was. An apppeal for "goodfellows" and contributions-not money-was made per medium of Station 2ZW, and was supported by Pm

the Press. So magnificent was the response that within a few days the proposed assistance for 200 families was fully assured and offers of assistance were _ still pouring in. Furthermore, cash was coming to light in

a remarkable way. . despite the fact that it was not asked for-but it was nevertheless. very useful. The idea of Christmas hampers for families other thay those which could be personally succoured occurred-and the result wag_ that on Christmas morning 471 families had the unexpected joy oi Christmas cheer. In those haimpers were all the essentials of a Christ-. mas-including toys for the children and cigarettes for father. In each hamper was a very simple Christmas greeting, printed ont a card supplied by a printer Smith. "Wishing you a merry Xmaq. and brighter days for 1932, from the Smith Family Joyspreaders (N.Z.}] Unlimited." And at the bottom, ‘We hope it will be your good fortune to help others next Xmas." The size of the hampers was made possible only by the co-opera«‘ tion of those from whom the goods were purchased, and each hamper represented goods that, were they purchased through the ordinary channels, would have cost over £2. | Over £560 was received, mostly in small amounts. toward the’

hampers. Many of the donations were! obviously made at a sacrifice. | Children were among the most willing givers, and many gifts of toys and money-boxes, con taining as much as a year’s savings, were handed in to serve as a reminder to Santa, Claus that the true spirit of Christmas still exists. : Money was sent through the post with’ out covering letter, name or address, and as much as £4 came in one letter in this manner. O great was the respons¢ that it was found that even after Christmas cheer had been provided for nearly four thousand persons, there was still money to spare, and orders for meat and groceries have been and are still being issued. When investigation proves that a family is in need of essentials, the orders have been given through the: Society for the Protection of Women and! Children, whose indefatigable secretary pers sonally investigates every case brought to her: notice. One of the most pleasing features of the movement has been the large number of; letters received from the recipients of assist-| ance. The obvious sincerity of these letters and their tragic (Concluded on page

"not been for the Smith family there’ uid have been many empty cupboards: m Wellington on Christmas Day. ‘Read some of the typical cases :- ."It was a great pleasure to see the children opening their stockings and Lift out-each toy, and to see their little hearts fill with joy. To see them would have done all the Smith family good. %é will be the first good day’s meal we have had for many months." '*We were at our wits’ end to know what We were going to have for Christimas, and. it seems as though one of your family heard our wish for a good Obristmas dinner. We thank you.’ ‘"We think it was very thoughtful of you including the smokes for Pop. ile usually gets ‘nothing at all" ag the @ong goes." "As my husband is on relief work pecially as we are in arrears With the went, which I try not to worry about at Christmas... We are pleased to say we have not always been in Poyerty Street, nd when we lived in Sunshine Road we knew the joy of giving. Our best wish $9. you is that you will have the same doy out of giving as we did at receiving in our hour of need." -"Jf I eould only get work---I tramp about every day-but no good. Durius Christmas week I was on relief works in ithe country, and last week IL was laid aside with a recurrence of war gis." ~Hach "Goodfellow" was asked 10 gnake a.report on the case he had attended, and many of these unfold a grit story of poverty and distress. "She is employed cleaning offices from #to 7 a.m., and after paying her rent pes 9/6 a week to live on. She is a ard-working woman, and is anxious to get further work at cleaning, and scrulping and washing." "They were now penniless and without food for the morrow. Sinith’s help Was very gratefully accepted in the spirit in which it was offered." "The money earned by the husband, g relief worker, and the few shillings earned by the daughter, aged seventeen, had to feed ten mouths, including a baby of six months." "Tt is evident that there are still plenty of people about who do give a thought to the other fellow. It merely needs the galvanic spark to set it going." "Phe room into which we were iuvited was barely furnished, and an atmosphere of poverty and bleakness hung over it. Everything was clean and tidy, and I am sure the fumily needs all the help that can be given." "T called upon the family nominated and provided them with a Christmas dinner. A side of lamb, toys, and a ponte supply of groceries. There ere eight in the family." "The house was properly clean, the garden exceptionally tidy, and the kiddies were all bright, und appeared to be well fed, I fear by the personal sacrifice of the mother. I did not see the husband, but somehow gained the impression that the was carryimy ¢he bulk of the load. Altogether they were ordinary decent people, who are having a bad spin." ° The Future. LIHOUGH the Smith Family was brought into being solely for the purpose of providing Christmas cheer, the valuable experience gained by those associated with the movement, and its value to any community, as proved by the results of its eight years’ activities in Australia, lead inevitably tories afford a definite proof that, had + ‘you may know how worried I was, es- |

to the conclusion that the movement should be organised on a permanent basis. The "Smith Family," it is suggested, shall act as a clearing-house for the various relief organisations and charitable societies. These societies will retain their present identity and carry on the good work being done by them, but all relief work will be co-ordinated and carried on through the central office of the Smith Family. This wil obviate overlapping of activities, and will ensure that accurate records are kept of all cases of distress and full investigation made of all cases reported, or applying for assistance. The Sinith Family, being a permanent or-

ganisation, and having the benefit of the Australian organisation’s experience, will, subject to approval, initiate various activities from time to time. With a view to co-ordinating the various relief activities in and around Wellington, it is proposed to invite representatives of the various relief organisations to attend a conference at an early date, when detailed proposals will be placed before them. It is proposed to appoint a full-time secretary to;attend. to the organisation and carrying-on of the movement, and to install a comprehensite system to ensure an adequate check on all cases dealt with. ..

Sub-sections. of the movement will include the following auxiliaries :- Medical Section-Honorary physician ~ who will attend to famili¢és requiring medical or surgical treatment. Where necessary, the Smith Family will provide necessary treatment. Dental Section-Honorary dentists will be enrolled, who will attend to cases requiring dental treatment, such treatment being provided by the Smith Family. Optical Section--Where glasses or treatment ate recommended by the medical section, honorary opticians will supply these to the order of the Smith Family. Legal Section.-Experience has shown that in many cases deserving people have been victimised by un scrupulous money-lenders, and certain hire-purchase trading concerns, owy to their inability to pay for legal viee and protection. Where cases this nature are brought before the Smith Family, honorary solicitors will advise on the matter and the Family will take the necessary action to ensure that no deserving family is robbed of its rights. Clothing Section.-This section will attend to the collection of clothing. éte., and arrangements will be made for its distribution to necessitous families. Transport Section.-Honorary carriers in various districts will be enfolled who will collect or deliver goods. "Young Smiths" Section.--Boy Scouts and children will be enrolled in a speeial "Young Smiths’ organisation, , their function being to assist poor child-"" ren in various ways outlined by the Smith Family. A special seheme is being dereloped to assist in finding employment for men, women, boys and girls. Those who have been associated with the Smith Family in its work to date have expressed their willingness to continue their assistance and co-opera-tion, and "Mr. Smith." who has had actual experience of the movement in Australia, is prepared to earry on in an honorary and supervising capacity : if the movement is placed on a permanent basis.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.I whakaputaina aunoatia ēnei kuputuhi tuhinga, e kitea ai pea ētahi hapa i roto. Tirohia te whārangi katoa kia kitea te āhuatanga taketake o te tuhinga.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/RADREC19320122.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 28, 22 January 1932, Page 1

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,795

Joyspreaders Unlimited Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 28, 22 January 1932, Page 1

Joyspreaders Unlimited Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 28, 22 January 1932, Page 1

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