CHARITABLE AID.

Otago Witness, Issue 2872, 24 March 1909, Page 25

CHARITABLE AID.

ALLOCATING THE BURDEN.

OTAGO CASE IN AUCKLAND. CFeom Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, March 18. Some two or three months ago a case was before the Auckland Police Court in which a destitute wife and children figured prominently, the husband being in gaol and the wife in the hospital. The question arose as to what should be done towards the children. The Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board applied to the magistrate for an adjotirnment in order that the Otago Board might be communicated with, the question of responsibility for the paupers being involved. The children were, however, committed to the Industrial School at the expense of the Auckland Board, and the matter afterwards formed the subject of a deputation to the Hon. G. Fowlds. Commenting on the circumstances early in February last, the Balclutha Free Press said that the plain facts of the case, which were apparently unknown to the I Auckland Board, were that the family originally came from Auckland, and during their residence in Balclutha were in receipt of aid from the Clutha County Council as administrator of the charitable aid fund. Then the woman said she would) like to join her husband in Auckland, stating that she thought she would do better there, where she had friends. The council could not officially consent to pay her pace-age, and the passages of the children, but a number of the charitablydisposed took the matter in hand, and sufficient funds were raised for the purpose, with a little to spare. Tlie secretary of the Aucklandi Board has now prepared a statement in l elation of the paragraph in the Balclutha paper, which he characterises as misleading. He says: "The real facts are as follow: — The eight children were all born in Otago (five at Highcliff, two at Dunedin, and one at Merton) and neither they nor | the mother ever caw Auckland before being sent here by the Clutha Council. The mother and seven children arrived in Auckland on November 30, 1908. Prior to that date the family lived for the latter two years and a-half at Balclutha, before that for two years at Otakou, and before that again for a number of J yeais at Higheliff. For 18 months prior | to coming to Auckland the family were in receipt of charitable aid) through the Clutha Council. The mother was apked if ehe would 1 like to go to Auckland, and before deciding she wrote to her- husband, who with the elder daughter had been in Auckland since October, 1907. She consented to go, and the fares were paid by the council. A subscription was got up by the Mayor and town clerk, and a

f further sum of- about £5 was raised, and handed to the woman to defray other expenses. Surely it must have been known to the Clutha Council that the man was not in a position to support his family, for he and 4 the eldest daughter were barely able to support themselves, and since their arrival in Auckland had only sent a few shillings towards the support/ of the wife and other members of the family." " The solicitors of the Auckland! Board," the statement adds, " protested to the magistrate against the committal of these children at the expense of the Auckland Board, but the magistrate held that he had no power to do anything but commit them, because they had bee/ brought before hifn by the police."