CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Ad ordinary meeting of the Charitable Aid Board was held at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present—Messrs R. Westenra (Chairman), R. Martindale, R. H. Parish, W. Moor, W. D. Wood, W. Pradhoe, W. Dunlop, W. White, Jan., D. McMillan. The Chairman referred to the death of the late Mr J. C. Boys. Mr Boys had always been very attentive to bis duties as a member of the Board, and they would all agree with him that his loss would be felt. There was the question of the appointment of his successor. The power lay with the Board to make the appointment.

bat he would ask the Board to say if the local bodies, wHich Mr Boys had represented, should be consulted Messrs Dcnlop and McMillan were of opinion that these bodies should be asked to suggest the name of a successor, and it was agreed to adopt this course. Leave of absence for the session was granted to Mr F. Jones. A telegram was read from Mr F. Jones stating he had been informed that the allocations for charitable aid purposes were to be made on the old valuations. The Secretary was instructed to take immediate action. The new Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill was laid on the table. Mr McMellax said he did not think the Board need trouble themselves much about the BilL A strong expression of opinion from the contributory bodies would have more weight. The opinion of an expiring Board would have little weight, except perhaps any suggestions they could inaks from their experience in working under the old Act. Mr White said the Hospital Board, and not the Charitable Aid Board, had most to do with the new Bill. Under it the Charitable Aid Board would be abolished. The Bill was ultimately referred to the Charitable Aid Committee to consider and report to the Government. Some routine correspondence was read aad dealt with. Mr Alexander wrote asking the Board to re-consider their decision to reduce his salary. The letter was received. A letter was read from the Native Office, Wellington, stating that the sum of £5 each would be granted for twelve months to three aged Natives at Kaikoura, if Mr Wm. Smith would himself see that the money was properly exoended in procuring supplies. It was decided tw ask Mr Smith to carry out this request. A letter was read from the Akaroa County Council, in reference to the case of an indigent Native at Akaroa, and it was decided to refer the Council to the Government. A letter was read from the Education Board of Otago, stating that the school at the Benevolent Institution was carried on as an ordinary Government school, and they received the full capitation for the children. The letter was received. Mrs Bridge. President of the Ladies, Committee, reported that the boarded out children were happy and well looked after. There were several cases of delicate health and feeble intellect, but these were receiving proper care and attention from the foster-parents. The visitors bore testimony to the strong attachment that had grown up betwpen those that had been placed ouc and their guardians. There were severa cases not yet visited. Mr White moved the adoption of the report, and said it was gratifying that the Ladies' Committee found the children in a satisfactory state. He suggested that the report should come before the Charitable Aid Committee, as did the other reports. It was decided to adopt this course and the report was adopted. Mr Parish moved—"That no person under the age of twenty-one be supplied with boots and shoes by the Board." He said chat the children of the towns were no more entitled to boots and shoes than the children of persons in the country, who were unable to provide them. Numbers of children in his district went bare-footed. Mr Dunlop seconded the motion, and said that nothing but the bare necessaries of life should be provided. They were raising up a race of paupers, as the children who came to the Board week after week were learning to beg and would be beggars all their lives. He was against the Committee sitting twice a week, and said that the Committee had at times gone against the recommendations of the Inspector. The Board had been too extravagant in the past. Mr Moor did not agree with the motion, and said that if it was carried the Board

would be neglecting young people at the most critical period in their lives. The seed 3of consumption would be sown and greater expense would ensue in doctors' bills.

Mr McMillan said the motion had been

brought on at an inopportune time, and he had asked the mover and seconder to withdraw it. He gave the Board every credit for the work they had done. The Committee should not personally look into cases, but leave them to their Inspector, and, if necessary, more officers should be appointed, who should go out into the country districts. Local bodies, in the country that contributed more than they spent did not look carefully into cases, as they wished to see as much money as possible come back to the district. He

knew of many cases in the country which were not deserving. Ho considered the charitable aid districts should be larger, and that the contributions should come directly out of the taxpayers' pockets. The Chairman said he agreed with many of the remarks or Mr McMillan. The giving of boots, and shoes and clothes and blankets was not the duty of the Charitable Aid Board. He hoped the Government in adopting fresh legislation would do something with regard to wife desertion. If a man was coward enough to desert hfe wife and family, he should be brought back and treated to the lash. Whatever system was adopted in the future, they must seriously consider the question of cutting down expenditure. Mr Wood instanced the case of a man who bought a piano, but allowed his children to po shoeless.

Mr White did nob think they should cut off the supplies of clothing and boots, see, but that more should be done in the way of inspection. More officers should be appointed. He agreed with Mr Dunlop that the Committee nad at times been too

lavish. He was against aid being given in cases where the applicants were intemperate. He did not think the Board should ask children to go without boots and shoes at this time of the year. Mr Parish—They do it in my neighborhood.

Mr White said he did not wish to see children anywhere go without clothing. In some cases efforts were made to keep children out of school because they had no boots. The inspection should be more searching.

The Chairman said the Board should give the bare necessaries of life in the shape of food, and that clothing should be given by Benevolent Institutions. Mr Pbddhoe opposed the motion. After some further discussion, Mr Parish, with the consent of his seconder, withdrew the motion.

The Charitable Aid Committee reported that the number of cases to which outdoor relief was afforded during the month of June was 472, as against 474 in the previous month, and 480 in the month of June, 1888. There were 34 of this number which were either entirely new 'or had not been assisted during May, whilst 36 cases helped in the latter month did not obtain further aid In June.

■ Mr White hoped that the Committee would find some work for the large number of unemployed now in town. Mr Peudhoe said that all who applied on Monday were given work at the Jubilee Home.

Mr White wanted to see reproductive work, such as stone-breaking, started. The report was adopted. The Orphanage Committee reported:— " There is nothing of special interest to note respecting the Orphanage this month. The number of inmates is sixty-four. Appended are the reports of the Medical Officer and the Lady Visitors."

The Medical Officer reported upon the state of the Lyttelton Orphanage for the past quarter as follows: —"The management of the Institution generally, the care of the children, and the quantity and quality of the food (except the butcher's meat, which was for a time indifferent, but is now good) have all been quite satisfactory. The health of the children has been, on the whole, very good, for althougn a great many minor ailments, .such as boils, skin irritations from cold, &c, &c, have required attention, no serious illness has appeared." The Lady Visitors reported:—" We have visited at the Orphanage during the past mouth. With the exception of one very delicate boy, the children appear to be well, and they have resumed attendance at church. We think it much to be regretted, and we desire to draw the attention of the Committee to the fact, that the girls are not taught cooking. The matron informs us that they cannot work in the kitchen, as the boys are employed there. We venture to suggest that the boys and girls should be employed alternately." The Orphanage Committee's report and that of the Medical Officer were adopted, and that of the Lady Visitors was referred to the Charitable Aid Committee.

The Committee specially deputed to interview the Board of Education on the subject of the Orphanage School, suggested, as the result of the conference, that the apparent solution of the difficulty would be to make the Orphanage schoolroom a public school under the Education Act, in which case the duty of providing teachers, furniture, and appliances would fall on the Education Board, who would be also entitled to receive the ueual capitation allowance per child from the Government. The report was referred to the Orphanage Committee. Home and Refuge Committee reported

that "The number of inmates at the Memorial Home is twenty-five; trad at the; Female Refuge four women-with their infants. Your Committee has had under consideration the expediency of providing shelter against stormy weather to the kitchen entrance, and also. to the small courtyard between the kitchen and ecullery, and of erecting a co&lhouse and doors to the octagon, which are necessary. to protect the inmates from the cold winds. The whole cost of effecting these improvements would probably not exceed £50, and your Committee would recommend the matter to the Board's consideration. It has been ascertained that the cost of connecting the Memorial Home with the Tele-' phone Exchange, which was authorised at the last meeting of the Board, would be £17 for the first year, and £14 103 per annum afterwards."

Mr McMillan objected to the expenditure ot this money at present, on the ground that probably the Institution would be under the management of another body. The report was adopted, with the exception of the words " and ot erecting a coal house," which was struck out. This would reduce the amount asked for to about £;».

The Ashburton Home Committee reported—"At the suggestion of the local members tenders have been invited for the supply of iron bedsteads and palliasses, to replace the old wooden stretchers, which are worn out. There are three tenders on the table for the Board's consideration. The report was adopted, and the tender of A. J. White, bedsteads at 23s 3d, and palliasses 8s 6d each, was accepted.

The Treasurer reported that the receipts since the last meeting of the Board have been—Balance of contribution for last year, Waipara Road Board, £150; Female Refuge, earnings and maintenance account, iumates, £9 6s 2d; voluntary contributions, Orphanage account, 10s. The overdraft at the bank at present date amounts to £1403 3s 6d.

The report was adopted, and the Board then adjourned.