HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID ANNUAL REPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1898, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID ANNUAL REPORT.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Friday. The annual report of hospitals and charitable institutions was laid on t the table of the House to-day. The inspector emphasises the tendency in every charitable movement to look to the initiative of the State, and the consequent ostracism of charity. The report is a compendium of literary dissertations on political economy, and the history of charity, and must rank as the severest criticism of the methods of charitable organisations in this Colony yet written. 'One of the heaviest and most thankless of my multifarious duties,' says Dr. McGregor, 'is to resist the swelling tide of pauperisation. Our hospital system is greatly abused. The outdoordepartment, especially in Wellington, is attaining alarming proportions. There is laxity in collecting maintenance, and hospitals and charitable institutions are abused. In the present state of public sentiment the right men —men of' ability and integrity —are not available, who can be trusted with such functions as conductors of' these institutions. We are like the swine of Gadam, plunging down a steep place into the sea, possessed by this devil of vicarious charity masquerading as one of the Christian graces. Even churches have become infected, for their rescue work, Anglican and Catholic Churches, and Salvation Army, are subsidised. The Presbyterian' Church of Ottigo and Southland tried it, but, moved of their traditions, retired. State subsidies encourage thoughtless extravagance, and a corrupting and degenerate philanthropy. If it continues, society will degenerate, taxation will increase by leaps and bounds, and the industrious and self-respecting-citizens will rebel.' He concludes an able and exhaustive report/in the suggestive language of Alexander Johnson, -President of the National Congress of America, who describes the deg-enerate as incurable and unfit for free social life, and says: 'Henceforth I will care for you, feed and clothe you, give you a reasonable and comfortable life, but you must work as directed; and you must no longer procreate your kind: you must be the last oi your feeble and degenea-ate family.' Dr. MacGregor suggests separate institutions for indigent males and females.