“One man in receipt of 47s. a week in wages received twelve tickets from the _D. N._ on Christmas Eve, and did not turn up to his work for four days, though extra pay was offered for Boxing Day.” “A man,” says a relieving officer, “came to me on Friday and had 3s. He went to the Town Hall and got 4s. His daughter got 3s. from the same source; his wife 5s. from a Councillor, and late the same night a goose.” Another relieving officer reported:-- “Outside my office a 4-lb. loaf could be bought for 1d., and a 2s. relief ticket for two pots of beer.” “The public-houses did far better when the relief funds were at work.” “My impression is, that more than 500 people who were in receipt of out relief in my district received relief from the funds; but we were never consulted.” “The relieving officers had to be under police protection for four months.” Such an experience naturally forced the newspapers to consider their ways. The system of doles was abandoned, and local organizations were established to give relief in some approved method. Let it be granted, without prejudice, that the administration was made so effective as to justify a report of good work to the subscribers to the fund. Let it be granted that a large number of the unemployed were given work, that families were emigrated, and that the hands of existing agencies were strengthened. There are still two criticisms which may be directed against the Press position as an administrator of relief. The first is, that the experience by which it learns wisdom is disastrous to the people. The waste of money is itself serious, but that is a small matter alongside of the bitter feeling, the suspicion, the loss of heart, the loss of self-respect, the lying, which are encouraged when gifts are obtained by clamour and deceit. Gifts may be poisons as well as food, and gifts badly given make an epidemic of moral disease. The second criticism is, that the organization, when it is created, disturbs, displaces, and confuses other organizations, while it is not itself permanent. The Press action leaves, it may be said, a trail of demoralization, and does not remain sufficiently long in existence to clear up its own abuses. II.