JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

9 FROM PAUPER RELIEF TO PROVIDENT
BENEFIT.
Can the poor provide help for the poor? This is the riddle that faced the
St. Kitts Workers League, as it started to unite the working masses in
1932. The League inherited a legacy of poverty, destitution, bad housing
conditions, poor health and education which were wide spread in
the country. Along with these, there was ample evidence of indifference
and some amount of hostility on part of the Government of the day
towards the interests of the underprivileged class but it is to the Administration
that people turn to for help.
Many persons on the list for poor relief received one shilling
(24 cents) per week. Some orphans were allowed (12 cents) per week.
At the rate of one penny per day, the orphan’s allowance could not last
for the week. At that time the law regarding poor relief allowed not
more than one shilling and six pence per week for any poor and destitute
person.
The Worker’s League realised that there was a great deal to be
done if the under privileged were to be helped. Neglected children were
seen everywhere. But the League’s membership was made up of men
and women without money. How could they help the needy when they
themselves were in need of help? Often, it is under severe stress that
the finest qualities of character reveal themselves. The creative power
set to work, impelling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Charity Day
With in three months of The League’s formation, the leaders started to
discuss ways and means of aiding the needy cases. They decided to
establish a fund to be devoted to charity and to have a special day set
apart every year to be observed as “Charity Day.” The idea was as inspiring
as it was new. It attracted voluntary workers. Cheerily the ladies
in particular came along and procured rosettes or tags to be sold for
raising money for the Charity Funds. The enterprise was another ex-
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