HELPING CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 6

HELPING CHILDREN

WORK OF THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD

AN INTERESTING REPORT An interesting report dealing with the work of the Charitable Aid Committee during the recent epidemic, especially as regards the assistance given to helpless children was prevmted to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. The report was as follows:— "On December 3 a sub-conniiittee was set up to act with the chairman of the board, Mr. .Baldwin, in dealing with an inquiry from the Minister of Public Health as to the extent of destitution arising directly from the above cause,' arranged under the following heads:— "1. Loss of husband Or father (with dependants). "2. Loss of wife or mother. "3. Loss of both parents (children unprovided for). "A circular was accordingly sent to : each of the gruup captains rf the \ ig:- j lanro commiitees askine: them to meet the sub-committee vnt the board's offices on Friday, December 6, bringing with them lists of cases within their knowledge whose circumstances came within the above definition. "The meeting was duly held on the date appointed, when th" majority of the group captains were either present or represented, and lists were handed in. "The lists thus supplied afforded the following figures :t- ---/ Cases. Children. Loss of father 47 134 Loss of mother 17 51 Loss of both parents ... fi 20 Total 70 205 "These- figures appeared, however, to disclose rather the total number of cases of bereavement which had come under the notice of the committees than such of them only ns were in urgent need of assistance. That this should be so was not, of course, remarkable, as the primary function of the committees was to coinbat the disease and not to inquire into the pecuniary condition of the sufferers. "Considerable discussion took place at the. meeting as to the method by which assistance should be tendered to those in need, special reference being made to orphan children. The term 'orphan children' appeared to be used in an extended sense, so as to comprise all those, who had lost only one parent, and the opinion was freely expressed that such children especially! and, indeed, nil persons in pecuniary distress as a result of the epidemic ought not to be dealt, with by the institution created by the State especially to perforin this and similar functions, namely, the Hospital and Charitable-Aid Boards, but that the epidemic should be deemed to have created an entirely extraordinary position, to deal with which entirely extraordinary machinery ought to be devised and brought .into use. "What the practical nature and constitution of -this should be was not in any way indicated. Having regard to this expression of oninion it was deemed expedient to lay this aspect before the Hon. the Minister and to ascertain from him what his views were thereupon. "The sub-committee therefore aJ-ranged an interview with the Hon. G. AV. Pussell, whereat he-indicated his inability to see how the State could differentiate between children rendered destitute by this epidemic and those who might be placed in a similar position by some other disaster such as was always within the bounds of possibility, and that therefore the immediate task of dealing with cases of necessity, whether of orphaned or other children or persons, lay upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards as an essential portion nf the functions for which they exist. The result of the public expression of tho Minister's view has doubtless been to clear away some confusion of ideas and to simplify the task of assisting necessitous cases. Such cases have since beer, freely introduced to the notice of the hoard by group captains, and, as the latter have been assured would bo the case, have been immediately attended to and assistance afforded on liberal lines and by modes more elastic to meet individual needs and circumstances, anything approaching _ inquisitorial or rigorous methods having been carefully excluded. "At the present moment some 40.t0 '15 families are being assisted either by the provision of daily necessities, relief from the pressure of rent or maintenance of children. • "So far the calls for the maintenance of children apart from their surviving parent have not been numerous, and there has been no difficulty in providing for them through the ordinary channels and in accordance with any expressed wish of the parents. "The committee has experienced considerable satisfaction at the spirit in which its help has been accepted. The board's visitor has been received, in every case, in a manner which showed an appreciation of the motives with which her visits were made, while, on the part of those whom misfortune has brought for the first and, in many cases, it ia hoped, only time into contact with the charitable aid authority, there has been no sign of any resentment being felt at any inquiries made, while general satisfaction and some surprise has been expressed at the absence of any treatment derogatory to their self-respect at the hands nf'anyone, djrectly connected with the board or otherwise, with whom they have been brought into contact." In moving the report. Mr. D. Campbell said that the whole of the twenty orphans had been satisfactorily placed. There had been a great pressure on Mr. TruebridKe, and his staff during the trouble had done splendid work right through. . The chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) said that the position to-day was that there were 100 children under their maintenance. There might be more or less, but roughly the 205 children mentioned in the Teiiort had been reduced to about 100. They had thrown open the linearthy Homo far children. Eight had been sent out, and another six were to have been sent out, but never reached the home. To-day they had all gone to I heir homes. Tho board was still able to offer assistance by means of tli6 Macarthy Home. Mr. Castle stated that th» committee should hardly assume that the cases for assistance were limited to those who came unon tho Charitable Aid Committee. There was a central committee at the Town Hull, which had done a great deal of relief work. The chairman said that they had given 25 group committees the means of bringing cases under the notice of the Charitable Aid Board, and if they did not take advantage of it it could be assumed that they did not want such aid. Tlie report was adopted.