CHARITABLE AID.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 7

CHARITABLE AID.

SOAJE STRANGE DISBURSEMENTS. AN INSPECTOR TO BE APPOINTED. Attention was directed in theso columns a few.days ago to what looks, on tho face of it, like an abuse of tho system of charitablo ■aid. Tho matter camo beforo tho executive committee of tho Wellington and Wairarapa Charitablo Aid Board at its meeting yesterday morning. ' Tho Seorotary (Mr. G. Willis), in submitting tho vouchers from the local bodies, drow attention to somo of tho items, which appeared to indicate that charitable aid monoy was being usod for tho purchase of luxuries, Tho Chairman (Mr. R. Ci Kirk) said ho was glad tho matter had been brought Up. Ho observed that the Mauricevillo Borough Council's accounts ravoaled such items as barb-wiro, insuranco on a, house, interest on a mortgage, kapoc, an axe-handlo, etc. Tho Eketahuna Borough Council's accounts showed expenditure on oaeon, v fish, pickles, cocoa, a shirt, -ota. Other accounts, showed 1001b. 1 of flour to certain individuals, oats, chaff, bran, axlo grease, salad- oil, ginger nuts, cheese, wool. - Tho Matiricoville Borough Council, seomed to have no .system iin tho matter. In. several other cases no details ivore shown. Tho Chairman said that these facts showed tho need for an' inspector, who should go. round and see tho recipients of relief: In the. meantime ho thought tho secretary should go through the accounts and draw the attention of the local bodies concerned to such items as had boon referred to. Mr. D. M'Laren said that there should be no objection to granting to , aged persons somo small comforts which might ,be necessaries to them, although luxuries to others. Tho Secretary also mentioned that some of the accounts now presented were two years old. . It was' resolved that the secretary should' go carefully through all tho .accounts,, and draw tho attention of the distributing bodies to. items that appeared improper, and should issue a circular to impress upon theso bodies the need for exercising the greatest discretion in tho distribution of charitable aid. Tho Chairman was authorised to endeavour to securo tho services of an inspector to Visit tho country'districts and investigate-'tlie cases of charitable relief. It was urged by members that much tact and consideration' would need to;be exercised by tho inspector. The Chairman mentioned that the local bodies had already stated that th'oy had no objection to : an inspector being appointed. Ho thought tho only difficulty would be to find a suitable person. Tho accounts from Mauricevillo .County Council (£124) and Eketahuna Borough Council (£l4). wero held ovor pending in l vestigations. Thoso of other local bodies, amounting to £1081, were passod for payment. . , .