7 JUNE 1935, Page 18

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have just noticed the letter on this subject in your issue of May 17th, and write in support of the writer's urgent appeal that something should be done to avoid the manifest evils of the " voting " system, and " recommendation " letters, adopted by mink charitable societies.

Mr. F. W. Tanner has pointed out the distressing waste of money, and the intolerable hardship to candidates for relief, resulting from this system. The Clergy Orphan Corporation and St. John's School, Leatherhead (the latter having abolished the voting system a few years ago) both leave it to the members of their committee to select the most needy, deserving and suitable candidates. On the other hand, I have been told by the Secretary of the Home for Incurables at Putney Heath, that he finds insuperable difficulties in abandoning the system ! It is pitiable when a small sub- scriber (as I am) with few votes to dispose of receives about thirty letters or printed applications, mostly, apparently, from sufferers who can doubtless ill afford the time, trouble, exertion and expense involved.--Yours truly, The Red House, Tadworlh, Surrey. R. J. S. GILL.