The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1911. A PERPLEXING PROBLEM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 17 October 1911, Page 4

The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1911. A PERPLEXING PROBLEM.

The administration of charitable aid is not only a perplexing, but, in effect, a perpetual problem. Perhaps something worthy of the name of finality will be reached by-and-by, but apparently that time is not yet visible even on the horizon. The experience of the Hawera, Charitable Aid Board is, in this connection, not unlike that of other bodies of its kind in New Zealand. Apparently, too, there has been little change for the better for many years. When the late Dr Macgregor was at the head of the Department, his annual reports had one almost unvarying section, in which he deplored not only the risk but the steady tendency to more and more luxury in the supplies allowed to those who received assistance. Tt was neither meanness nor inhumanity that induced him to follow this course, but a largo and enlightened regard for the character of the people. That he was justified is proved by the experience that is still too common. For it was no extreme statement that was made on Monday In- Mr Nolan, the Chairman of the Hawera Board, when ho said that "the whole system of this charitable aid was wrong, in so far as there was too much luxury connected with it." He spoke, too, as though the Board itself had been blameworthy in the matter, for he added that if'the Board continued to act on its old lines in that respect, people from Wanganui and Tara-

naki would deliberately come into the Board's district. It is satisfactory to see that the Board realises its responsibilities in this important matter, for it has now adopted a definite schedule of necessaries. It is certainly not a mean or meagre list, nor is it cast-iron, for articles outside the schedule are to be supplied on an order from the Board. Still, this does not mean finality, even for Hawera. Neither is any district by itself likely to evolve a perfect scheme, if, indeed, a perfect scheme is attainable under the existing conditions of society. But they have achieved remarkable results in this connection in Denmark, in Holland, and practically throughout the whole of Germany. Of course, the people of those countries began to wrestle with the problem in dead earnest long before England or any British colony, and it would be highly desirable to have a digest of their methods constantly within the reach of the Charitable Aid Boards and the people of New Zealand, not with a view to copying them in any slavish fashion, but for the sake of vital hints and suggestions, which would enable us to evolve a system comprehensively suitable to ourselves. Two facts are certain; namely, that there are practically no destitute, ■ derelict poor classes in Germany, and I that the poor who need help are systematically and humanely provided for, yet economically on the community's part, and without detriment to the selfrespect of the recipients. A sure means of securing these results is what we need in New Zealand. Such a system would enable us to do not only what was necessary on the side of humanity, but to do so with assured judgment and economy, and also with a strong bias to national efficiency through the maintenance of integrity and self-respect in the characters of recipients. This is the end that the late Dr Macgregor was wont to keep so steadily in view, and it is obvious that it cannot be too steadfastly aimed at. In the case of men who have to be helped, perhaps the country by-and-by will have a system which will enable them, as a matter of course, to take part in the process, if only to the extent of growing their own vegetables on little bits of land publicly provided for that specific purpose. There is, at least, no reason why we should despair, in view of the encouraging examples supplied by Germany, where the effective administration of charitable aid is no longer, as it still is with us, a perplexing problem.