CHARITABLE AID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10214, 7 December 1893, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID.

THE NORTH CANTERBURY BOARD.

Tho statutory annual meeting of the Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday morning, there being present—the Chairman (Mr Westenra), tbn Hon W. C. Walker, Messrs J. T. Smith, E. H. Parish, If.' W. Perymnn, T. York, J. Hamilton, W. H. Cooper, W. Dunlop, W. Langdovin, J. Ronnie and A. Chalmers. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Acton- Adams and Mulcock. chairman’s statement. The Chairman made the following statement : . “The work of the Board during the official year now ending has been carried on with mixed results. So far as the management of Our iaf-titutioES for housing destitute aged persons is concerned, I think we may claim that everything is satisfactory, but with regard to another important feature of our administration, I cannot but feel that tho results are not encouraging, nor, indeed, can wp expect otherwise from tho very nature of tha work of distributing outdoor relief. It would be hard fco satisfy the demands of all the numerous applicants, unless the public are prepared to submit to a much higher taxation; neither can we prevent tho complaints of many persons who allege that they are already overcharged for the coat of supporting undeserving recipients of relief ; the middle course, therefore, is to , endeavour, se the Board hitherto has always endeavoured, to discharge its duties to the public impartially and economically in the interests of all. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will shortly devise means for reducing the difficulties surrounding this vexed question. No one grudges reasonable assistance to worthy object o of charity. On tho other hand, it ia with reluctance that the Board is obliged to submit to the demands of idle end vicious people without being empowered by law to compai them to render an equivalent for the help that, in certain cases, cannot be denied. Tho application of a test, in some form, has become a stern necessity; and the sooner the Colony faces the position the sooner will the strong and increasing tendencies to pauperism which are becoming eo abundantly evident, more especially in the larger centres of population, ba likely to bs repressed. By' whatever name, under future legislative enactments, the local authorities entrusted to carry out tho detailed work of administering the laws designed for relieving the poor may be known, the fact will still remain that the difficulties end the evils inseparable from work of this nature will havo to be contended against with a firm hand. A list of the several members’ attendances at tho meetings held during theyear is laid on tho table for general information; also a statement showing tho contributions paid and still owing by the local authorities." VOTES OF THANKS. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring members, which was carried and acknowledged by Mr York, who expressed his regret at leaving the Board. A vets of thenka to the Chairman was unanimously carried. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the staff ia vary eulogistic terms. This was carried and was acknowledged by Mr T. C. Norris, the Secretary, on behalf of himself and the other members of the staff.

I THE NEW BOARD, Mr Weateara then left tho chair and the Secretary announced tho return of tho following members to represent the several local contributory authorities County of Sslwyu (4) —Messrs E. Westenra, J. Ilonnie, H. W. Peryman end W. Dunlop; County of A»hloy . (2)— Messrs E. H. Pariah and E. Mulcock; County and Borough of Ashburton (2)—The Hon W. C. Walker and the Mayor of Ashburton; County and Borough of Akaroa (1) —Mr John Hamilton; Counties of Amur! and Kaikoura (1) —Mr W, Acton-Adams; City of Christchurch (2) —Messrs J. T. Smith and W. H. Cooper; Boroughs of Lyttelton, St Albans, Kaiapoi and Eangiora (I)—Mr A. Chalmers; Boroughs of Sydenham and Sumner (1) —Mr William Languor, n. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. On the motion of the Hon W. C. Walker, Mr Westenra was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Board. COMMITTEES. The following Committees were then appointed:— Charitable Aid Messrs Westenra, Hamilton, Walker, Chalmers, Langdowa, Dunlop and Cooper, Institutions—Messrs Hamilton, Smith, Chalmers, Peryman, Walker and Westerns. ‘ Ashburton Homs Messrs Walker Dunlop, Mulcock, Esnnio and Westenra. Finance Messrs Westenra, Walker, Smith, Parish and Hamilton. It was decided that business relating to the Twigger estate should ba dealt with in future by the Finance Committee as occasion required. The meeting then closed.