The subsistence allowance is six cents a day... and many of the unemployed have become ragged and weakened, and may easily become victims of diseases bred by hunger.

EYE-WITNESS STORY

One of the most pitiable stories of destitution, involving the death of a girl of nine and that of a new-born baby, is told to me by an eye-witness who helped to bury the victims.

The deaths occurred at Howley on the west coast of Newfoundland, about 50 miles from East Cornerbrook.

In a wretched hut an unemployed man lived on relief with his wife and six children.

All the family except the father fell ill. Neighbours state that the illnesses were caused through hunger and privation. All were suffering from dysentery.

HELPLESS ON FLOOR

A week ago a neighbour's son visited the home and there saw the nine- year-old girl lying helpless on the floor, while the father was staggering about the house helping the other members of the family.

A neighbour then went to the house and found the girl dead. Her body was lying in rags. The mother was in bed with a baby born prematurely.

Another girl of nine was dying beside the semi-conscious mother in the same bed. Two other girls aged two years and four years, and two boys, aged six and eight, were helplessly ill. They were crouched in boxes on the floor.

A doctor was called from New Lake, took the new-born infant home and spent the night trying to save its life, but failed.

The writer of the story was, most likely, J.T. Meaney. He was the correspondent the British United Press. Meaney did not like the Commission of Government, and he wrote articles that showed the government in a bad light. Some people felt that his only goal was to create what we call today a "media sensation."

Meaney's story stirred up talk. The media, the public and the government wanted to know what had happened. What were the facts of this story? Were conditions so bad in Newfoundland that people could die in this way?