HOW CHARITABLE AID IS DISPENSED.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 215, 12 September 1888, Page 5

HOW CHARITABLE AID IS DISPENSED.

RECIPIENTS RESIDING ON FREE-

HOLD PROPERTY;

A somewhat singular application was made at the-Police.Court this morning to Dr/ Giles, R.M. Mr Strathe'rn, Visiting Officer to ; the i Hospital and Charitable Aid Board; applied Hinder the Destituto" Persons'■■•:■'Act, section^, 33, for> a warrant authorising the Board to sell: by public auction a'certain freehold allotment 'situated in George;street, Ponsonby. . This section is''the propertyof George ahd;Elizabeth'Day. In speaking-in support of the application, Mr Strathern stated that Mr and Mrs Day were advanced in 'years and unable to make "a living. For the last' ten years they had ;been in receipt of relief, and. during that time they took a trip, to the old country, and subsequentdyreturnedagain, Sincethen they had been in receipt of relief. In all probability they would be a burden upon the coun-try-for the reniainder af their lives, and at present the old' people might at any time";sell the property, and the Board thought that ib was but just "that it should go towards their maintenance. ,•* Arthur V; Stiirtevant; clerk in the Deeds Office,, gave evidence as to the situation, area, and owners, of the allotment in question.,.; ■ .■ ■-• '• •' ■ ' r,■•'■''■ . '

Mrs Elizabeth Bay said that Bho was 55 and heY" husband 65 years of age. The allotment belonged to her. When she first went to 'Mr Graham, for relief she was advised to do so and did not know that the property would bo taken to pay lor it. Why, it was a loan and not relief. Why was slie^ not told that she would I have jj to-;pay for the relief? Then (jßher would'nofciiaye: taken one penny. They,had gone home".and shethought that her husband's eyesight might be cured,.but ho was now quito blind." If she had known about this having to pay relief she could ! have sold hor house and gone home; again when they could have got more money for it. They? had not given her anyV notice that, it must" bo paid back. She wav npfc like an Iriah tenant that / might be evicted.; She would riot have her property taken from -her. Ikwas a snare arid not relief. This kind of thing was no encouragement to poor, people to get a bit of property. ■ , .'';::;;:'" '■: ■'"■'' •.: Dr. Gife: i Did^you.think, it right that you should be maintained oh property at public expense ? Do. you think it right to take, public charity; if you have freehold property of your own ? ; - ■>'iMrsDay: It's not charity.': It's a loan. That's what I can it if you take my pro-; perty to pay for it. . ' Mr StratKern said that they* were not asking to sell the property to pay the arrears,, because ib ;was; not so; They wanted it 'to' help to. main tain the old couple; ' .•....--; ;: • ' .:■ ■■ V.":' • ■ ■.;■■■' ' "•'. Dr. Giles said that there was something in what the woman had said about not being ally notice-, although it was quite wrong of anybody tp take relief while they possessed property.; Still he would, be reluctant to make any order that the property would have to be alienated. He would like to have jomeevidence in the case. ':. : John Btratherh deposed that he was visiting officer for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He visited the old couple for the first, time last' August. 'She made application for relief, which was then erantedu Tbejur earnings amounted to Is 6d per week from; mangling; ' They-had been receiving relief since 1882. They had other property, which was sold five, years ago, when the couple .'- paid a visit to the Old Country. The balance of the money was usedto purchaseith^e'present property. The previous Relieving Officer, Mr Graham, was quite astoriished'wheii witnessi told him than the old couple possessed property. - '. .Mrs Day said that she was prepared to pay for one,month'a aid as-that was all that the f ßoard was entitled to at law, as she had askedalawyer. . ••■ ' ■:•■.:■■<;:■.-■.■. . . ..• Dr. Giles said that the law set its face against persons receiving relief while they possessed property. It also gaye power tb sell any suoh property, but he thought, as. that was the first case of \the kind that had come before him, he would like toiake time to consider the matter. should like to have a reasonable offer made by Mrs Day otherwise some order must be made. . ' ■ -' Mrs Day: I won't;part with my prdperty. - . ... ,-,- : . ... . - , . ■ v^j^^b^hlpf Very w di I w ill take until Sfttafday to conaides th* ease.: - *'"