CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 5

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A meeting of tho Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon in tho office of the Secretary (Mr. Cr. Willis). Present: Messrs. R. C. Kirk (chairman), W. C. Buchanan, A. W. Hogg, M.P., F. Cohen, W. •H. Morrah, and D. M'Larcri. .' ... THE LADY INSPECTOR. ' The appointment of Miss ■ Kirk to 1 inquire into tho circumstances of recipients of relief came up for confirmation. Mr. Buchanan questioned whether ' there wasany* need for such an appointment., _ The 'executives., of the. local bodies were in a, good position to know tho real needs of tho cases, and in his;district, at all events, were 'most careful.

Mr. ..Hogg said there was practically >no improper distribution of relief in the. country districts, btJcause tho people were so critical when, anvono; not really in need applied for relief. Ho .wolcomcd tho appointment of an inspector, as it .would removo a good deal of uncomfortable feeling. The real difficulty was to, got relief for those who heeded and deserved it.' 'He had had to go to tho local bodies, and plead. the ;cause of such, peoplo. Ho was 'not 3ure that purchase of sardines, etc., by. recipients of aid' should bo so roundly condemned. . . : , i; . A SAD CASE. ' Tho Secretary" of St. Androw's Orphanage, Nelson, wrote asking the Board to pay for the maintenance of a boy in that institution, 7s/ 6d. a week, his mother, who had been paying, having been committed to a mental hospital. '■ It was resolved to accede to 'the request, and leave tho boy 1 at tile Hospital for the present'. : WELLINGTON'RECEIVING HOME. • Tho' Chairman reported, that there were 164 children iii the Rocoiving Homo, which was costing £58 10s.. a .week. ■ .The sum of £13 10s.' was. being recovered from parents, leaving a not expenso of'£4s, or ss. Gd. per child. Tho Government-was now going to tako'-vove'r tho' institution, and the Board would; have 1 ,-to pay 7s. Gd. por week per child, minus what the Stato' could recover from tho relatives. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Hogg suggested that theso institutions were taken advantage of. by parents who wanted- to shirk their responsibilities. ' '

Tho Chairman said that tho Board had no'power .to deal with tho matter, as the responsibility rested with thoGovernment and, tho .Magistrates, and they took all sorts of caro about it. Tho money spent on theso Homes went to making better citi-zens,-and was well spent,' -V, Mr. Buchanan thought tho Board might well express. its. views in order to influenco public-opinion. He urged that much expense 1 was .thrown on'-the .public' by> men deserting'their families. ; !•. " , . Mr. M'Laron said tho' expenditure was not, increasing-in. proportion . to, the' populatiori". , ! : ; The tlidri. dropped. • - FINANCE.' '

- The estimates of expenditure'for tho year 1908-9, 'and the apportionment' of tho' contributions' by, the local bodies, were . approved. ''Tho. total 'sum 1 shown to be . required was - iE9500, of which £4750 is .to , be, raised, from-the local ..bodies, arid 'tha sam.o amount to'be received from tho Government by way 'of-'subsidy. The details have already: boon published, in tho DomiKJON. : ; . ■ Accounts amounting to £540 lis. lOd. were passed for payment.