Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973
Incinerate the Lot
Incinerate the Lot
As one helper said, "You could solve the problem with a can of petrol and incinerate the houses and everybody in them, or you could help set up more houses like those in Abel Smith Street and give these poor bastards a chance to help themselves".
No doubt there are among the middle class those who believe that the established organisations (Arnold and the few church bodies) do a "good job", but many of the alcoholics are dissatisfied with the way he treats them, and the way he handles their money. Their lives may be worth little but they feel that they are entitled to their full Social Security benefit.
One of the men at the houses in Abel Smith Street summed up his feelings towards Arnold, by saying, ". . . people like Arnold aren't interested in the likes of me, they only give you god and take your money. They're a bunch of money making bastards, that's all".