The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1909. A CRY OF DISTRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2444, 8 March 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 8,1909. A CRY OF DISTRESS.

While our little community in Gisborne is basking in the sunshine of a delightful .autumn, lacking few of tlie material comforts that are really essential to a happy life, hundreds and thousands -of our fellows are suffering untold tortures from cold and hunger, in the land which the older amongst us still call “Home,” and which the younger refer to affectionately as “the Old Country.” The cables within the last few days have told us of snowstorms and blizzards in England* and the record of eight inches of snow in London provides ample stimulus to the imagination in portraying the state of affairs existing there. What that condition really is it is difficult for colonials to conceive. Few of those born in the Dominion have evei known the pangs of hunger, but the torture which accompanies slow starvation is unfortunately but too -comin on in the “Old Land.” During last summer poverty was grcatLy accentuated as a result of the world-wide depression which found its commencement in tho collapse of the American financial market, and everyone feared the commencement of winter. For it is in stern, chill winter that the grim spectre of Poverty walks boldly through the streets of the Old World and hands over by scores to his comrade, Death, the unfortunate victims of cold and hunger. During tho warm, long days of summer tlie poor wretch who can find no regular work may exist —it cannot be called living—on a few crusts of bread whilst the chances of casual odd jobs -are fairly good, and at tlie worst he can sleep in the open air, and survive with his scanty clothing. But the cold, raw winter of England offers neither comfort nor pity to the poor. The rich, warmly clad and wanting for nothing, oan, by the aid of many luxurious devices, make the wnter more enjoyable even than tlie summer, but the short days and long nights must come as .a horrible nightmare to the unemployed of Britain. At the present moment there are many thousands of men, women, and chldren who are literally hanging on the verge between lifo and death, clinging to life wth that tenacity that is common to humanity but scarcely dreading the relief that would come with tho cessation of the constant struggle for bread. The position is not the brighter by reason of tho fact that this terrible poverty

with its fearful consequences goes side by side will actual and ostontatious wealth, and in any case this is not the time for theorising upon economic problems. Tho statesmen of England are dismayed at the magnitude of tlieir task in dealing with tho unemployed problem this winter. Various schemes liavo been devised to provido work for those who seek it and food for the hungry, but when all that can bo done by public effort lias been done there still remains an appalling amount of misery and wretchedness. This brings us to a notice of the work that 'is being done by the itev. Mr. Grant, who is endeavoring to raise funds locally for the allevation of the distross in the Motherland. Tlie “Bread Fund” which lie has organised now totals £77, an amount that is by no means discreditable for so small a town as Gisborne. At tho same time it is undeniable that there are hundreds of people in this district who have not yet contributed to the fund who could give something, however little. That amount should be given without hesitation, for the mere thought of the sore distress which awaits relief should appeal to tho hardest heart. Many of our sheepfarmers could give a carcase of mutton without any serious inconvenience, and the 'knowledge that the donation would provide temporary relief from starvation for some of their own kith and kin who are struggling with the severity of an English winter should he ample recompense for the slight sacrifice that it would entail. No more deserving appeal lias been made to the charity of Gisborne folks, and we trust that before the “Bread Fund” is closed locally tlie amount to be forwarded by the Rev. Mr. Grant will be materially increased.