THE WINTER DISTRESS LEAGUE.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—I should be very grateful if you could bring to the notice of your readers the very practical work which is being done by the Winter Distress League, whose offices are at Devonshire House, Piccadilly.
The Committee hold strongly that "the noblest charity is to enable a man to dispense with charity," and they have, therefore, endeavoured to administer their funds along these lines. They have undertaken work for a large number of hospitals, creches, and other institutions which required doing, but which could not be put in hand for lack of funds, the only stipulations being that the institutions pay for the materials and give a written undertaking that the work could not be undertaken without our help. The League provides the labour, which is paid at trade union rates. The success of the scheme has been remarkable. The fact that the money is earned, not given, has ensured only genuine cases of in- evitable unemployment being assisted, and the institutions speak in the highest terms of the service given by the men. Our administrative expenses are extremely low and almost all our funds are paid out in wages in the above way or in boarding. out children from unemployed homes who are suffering from malnutrition.
Our funds are almost exhausted, and a fete is being held at Devonshire House, on July 11th and 12th, which H.R.H. the Princess Royal has graciously consented to open, for the purpose of replenishing them. We would ask the practical aid of your readers in helping us to avoid the tragedy of having to plunge our men back into the misery of unemployment and its attendant suffering. May I add that considerable numbers of men have passed into permanent employment through the agency. of the above scheme.--I am, Sir, &c.,
ETHEL M. WOOD, Chairman Finance and General Purpoiel Committee, Whiter Didress League.
Devonshire House, Piccadilly, W. 1.
Previous page
