A documentary by Jim Henderson on the Depression of the 1930s.
Recollections of hard times and poverty during the era by unidentified men and women. (Names listed in the credits)
Actuality of a 'community sing" in the 1930s.
A woman describes a malnourished, poorly-dressed child at a kindergarten.
A man talks about 'relief jobs' and the feeling of uselessness which came with unemployment.
A man speaks about feeling unwanted and living off handouts.
Another offers a different perspective - a man he met told him that he was happy doing nothing during the depression. He was young and idle and did not mind having no money.
The next speakers talk about the difficulties faced by married men trying to support their wives and children.
The next two speak about the pointlessness of some work and of ex-servicement eating at soup kitchens.
There were riots in Auckland and Wellington - three speakers talk about the protests and marches and the resulting trouble.
More speakers discuss pointless work, job insecurity, the difficulty of finding a job, the meaningless of qualifications, surprise at actually being paid, working conditions.
The next group of speakers talk about the importance of radio for people to feel connected to the outside world.
A man tells a story of two women who were too proud to accept charity, and who were slowly starving. They were eventually given a package marked 'from God and the Ravens' - a reference to the ravens who had fed Elijah in the wilderness.
Another talks about collecting food, clothing, blankets and furniture for the needy in Kaitaia. They went to the beach and dug shellfish which they sent to the soup kitchens.
A woman talks about people going to the City Mission in Dunedin to get some meat. Another talks about receiving soup from a kitchen set up to help women. She was denied any further help because she had a roof over her head.
A man talks about living with his mother who was unable to work and surviving on the barest list of groceries provided by the hospital board. Their staple diet was boiled rice with milk and sugar. He became malnourished and his health suffered.
People were unable to pay mortgages and bills. A man talks about a doctor who served patients even though they could not pay. Another mentions a storekeeper known for inflating prices.
Music of the 1930s interspersed throughout, from the NZBC archives.
Credits: Jim Henderson, editor; John McGregor technical producer.
Voices include:
Ruby Jones, Reverend C. G. Scrimgeour, Archdeacon James Young, Betty Byers, Sir Walter Nash, George Mearing, Geoff Newport, Asquith Thomson, John A. Lee, Frank Brady, Harry Byrne, Len Bergman, Ron Wakelin, Alice Anderson, E.R. Brewster, Jim Taafe, M.A. Nixon, Jim Forsyth.