Charitable Aid Conference.

Hastings Standard, Issue 455, 20 October 1897, Page 3

Charitable Aid Conference.

(Per Press Avsociiitiou.) Wellington-, Oct. 19. At the Charitable Aid Conference this afternoon the motion hy Mr Bollard, M.H.R., to abolish outdoor relief and substitute- a system of indoor relief, was discussed .it considerable length. Eventually Sir Bollard withdrew his motion in favor of an amendment by Mr T. C. Norris (Christchurch) providing that the system of outdoor relief be abolished so far as to revive the benevolent instincts of the people in the direction of assisting deserving cases as distinguished from those that would be moro properly treated within the four walls of some institution. This also was withdrawn after being discussed, and the following motion by the chairman was agreed to : —" That the system of outdoor relief is unsatisfactory and requires amendment and a committee of seven members be appointed to report on the system and the required reforms. The committee to discuss outdoor relief, the question of establishing farms and industrial establishments, and the question of desertion." The discussion of the question of abolishing separate institutions was then gone on with, and it was decided that in the opinion of the conference the system which obtains in many charitable districts by which charitable aid is obtained and distributed by separate institutions should be abolished, and the distribution vested in the Charitable Aid Board. Mr O'Regan, M.H.R., gave notice of motion that the Government provide an endowment of land for the purpose of erecting old people's homes. At 6 p.m. the conference adjourned till 10 a.m. next day. This day. The Charitable Aid Conference passed a resolution in favor of the establisments of industrial homes, and that the Government should also assist a colonial institution for imbeciles and others not fit for lunatic asylums. It was mentioned that the Lyfctelton Orphanage building was now vacant and might be used for the purpose.

The establishment of an inebriates home was partly approved. Mr O'Regan allncbd to the overcrowding in cities and wanted to call the attention of the Government to it, but the members thought the subject outside the scope of the conference and properly a matter for the municipal authorities. The conference expressed itself in favor af improving i itercolonial legislation in reference to wife tks rt:-rs and amending the law sj as to enable a man to be punished in whatever par: of the colony he was captured without bringing him to the town of residence ; also for amending the existing law of liability of fathers of illegitimate children. Mr Bollard moved that the Government subsidies to hospitals should be £ for £ upon the araoi n 1 ; of fees recovered from patients. Motion lost.