POOR RELIEF.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 9

POOR RELIEF.

PROPOSAL TO CIRCULATE RECORDS,

.' MR. HOGG'S STRONG OBJECTIONS.

: The . efforts. of the Government to obtain detailed information as to the distribution of "charitablo.' aid wero' discussed, yesterday afternoon's , meeting of-tho Wellington and Wairarapa Charitablo Aid Board. . Dr.; Valintme, lnspeetor-Genoral of Hospitals' and Charitable Aid, forwarded schedules to be filled in with particular's of recipients of charitablo aid, " to enablo a halfyearly bulletin to bo published and circulated confidentially among the numerous charitable' aid boards" and institutions with, punctuality and regularity," '~ • Mr. A. W. Hogg objected : to tho request.. He said the proposed bulletin would be like a sort of:'gaol record for tho poor, and might hereafter be used to tho detriment, of those who had'' been temporarily in difficulties.. Tho Chairman said he'supposed tho record would bo a chock upon peripatetic receivers of relief. Ho did not think much use would be made of it. . : Mr. W. C. Buchanan spoke of a-man who went about tho country' entering one charitable institution after another, and behaved in an objectionable manner, using such'language, that tho attendants were obliged to get out of his way. In such cases • as that the bulletins might be useful. ' Mr: 1 Hogg: " Branding tho poor with indeliblo ink. Some people who are holding their heads very high-, would have to blush as red as tho rose when they went into society." ; ;Mr. M'Laren also objected to tho propo-' sal. He'knew of cases where, owing to'accident, to tho breadwinner, families had. had to apply for relief, and ho thought it was a pity it should be recorded. Mr; Buchanan said no right-thinking person would think tho worse of such people, and yet,tho record might be used to their detriment. Mr. P. Cohen: "It is not >intended to publish the records,' surely?" ■The Chairman: " No. It will enablo the authorities to recognise tho professional vagrant:" Mr. Hogg: "A* long as poverty is not a crime, such bulletins, are quite unnecessary." Mr. M'Lnren thought the lack of discrimination was an objection to tho schemo. Mr. Buchanan said that as an old colonist ho never refused aid to a swagger, but, porhaps, if ho did his duty, he would deviso somo means'of recognising■ them, and then ho could insist on work before aid in tho 'cases of those who wero practically professional vagrants; Tho 'Chairman said tho Board could only pass tho Departmental communication on to the subordinate bodies. Tho matter then dropped., j The English have been and are, unquestionably, tho people of highest achievement in tho modern world; tho peoplo who have, dono moat for tho liberation and general'uplifting of mankind. —"Atlantic Monthly." To tnko a long spin in a motor-car is tho .best way of assuring a good night's rest; especially if an open car bo used, for speeding against the wind' for any longth of timo produces a feeling of drowsiness almost impossibloto overcome by any means except'slcep, _—".Westminster Gazotta."