CHARITABLE AID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10593, 28 February 1895, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID.

NORTH CANTERBURY BOARD. The ordinary meeting of the Ashburton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon; present—Messrs R. Westenra (chairman). H. W. Peryman, W. Dunlop, A. Chalmers, E. H. Parish, W. Acton-Adams and J. Rennie. . , An apology for absence was received from Mr J. T. Smith, chairman’s statement. The Chairman’s statement was as follows “ Shortly after the last meeting of the Board, the findings of the recent Commission of Inquiry were P u^‘ ia , and as I thought members would be glad to have the full text of the report before them as early as possible, I applied for a copy, which was furnished on Jan. 28, and after obtaining the Minister’s permission to supply the Press with same for publication I sent it to the local newspapers, m which it was promptly reproduced. The Chairman was authorised to affix the Board’s seal to the lease of the Orphanage cottage, and also to tbe Female Refuge cottage agreement. labsen’s case. Mr Peryman drew attention to a letter which had appeared in the Press of that morning, regarding Larson’s case, and asked whether the facts were as stated in the letter. A letter was read from the Rev F. Knowles, having reference to the same case, asking whether the Board had stopped the man’s allowance in consequence of the contributions which had been made to him. ... The Chairman said that the statements made in the letter were anything but correct. Last Thursday Larsen had come to the Charitable Aid Committee . and asked for an increase in' his allowance. In reply to questions, the man had said that his son had earned £6 on the Peninsula, and would hand over .£3 to his father when he returned. 1 In addition, there was, the subscription of £3 17s 6d from the Press office, and also a sum which the Rev F. Knowles had given. The Chairman said that with these sums they had thought the man could get on very well with his present allowance of 6s 6d per week. He had been told to apply again to the Board when these sums were exhausted and the Board would re-consider his case. It was quite untrue that the man’s allowance had been stopped because of these subscriptions. Last week he had obtained his usual allowance in cash, hut _ did not come for his tickets for rations. He had told the committee that he would not come again, because his application for an increase had been refused. It was decided to send a letter to the Rev F. Knowles stating the facts of the case. THE COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. The Chairman moved—“ That tbe Board proceed to the consideration of the Commissioners’ report.” He read the following statement “ I wish to offer a few remarks on this subject. With regard to the enquiry being held in public, I felt that it would have been preferable to have the whole business sifted In open court, as there was nothing the Board desired to suppress ; but as it was ruled otherwise, the proceedings were conducted in the presence only of persons directly interested, amongst whom were representatives of two organisations which appear to have been mainly instrumental in bringing the alleged grievances under the notice of the Government. « As is shown by the result, the Board and its officers were completely exonerated from the charge of ‘ cruelty.’ There can be no doubt that efforts wore made by several persona to excite an unfavourable impression in the public mind by unwarrantable and exaggerated statements respecting the treatment that applicants and recipients are habitually subjected to. It is easy to distort facts and impute motives; and apparently it is also not difficult to persuade a few superficial observers that because misrepresentations are allowed to appear in a public newspaper, such statements must necessarily be true. On the other hand, the majority of the * thinking ’ portion of the community refuses to he carried away by extravagant indulgences on the part of newspaper writers, and I may fairly claim that the Board has enjoyed and still enjoys the confidence of the people at large. No public body can expect to escape criticism of its actions, but the Board has tbe right to expect that its efforts to discharge peculiar functions impartially, and in the best interests of the poor, themselves as well as of the people who are required by law to contribute to their support, will receive credit for honesty of purpose and a desire to inflict no unnecessary hardship on the persons with whom it has to deal. «On the second ground of complaint—- ‘ Extravagance *—l believe the Board will be glad that the Commission has set at rest the question as to whether the Board is ill-served by its chief executive officer. According to some opinions that have been allowed to be pretty freely expressed in newspaper letters, very few men’s services are entitled to recompense beyond the ordinary standard of labourers’ wages. Such writers have no means of judging, nor would it answer their purpose to ascertain, what duties are required of the Board’s secretary, and the harassing and wearing effects of their proper discharge. The Inspector also occupies a difficult and thankless office. His salary, although judged by the commission to be * excessive,’ is at the present time .£lO a year leas than the same man received from the Government before this Board was constituted in 1885. This can scarcely be held to point to extravagance on the Board’s part, and it should be borne in mind that this officer has devoted ten years more of his life to work which, to say the least is not of a pleasant nature and is described further on in the report as * placing him at the mercy of unscrupulous persona.’ “ I next come to an item of office expenditure which presents no little difficulty. It is the case of an aged clerk who has been in the service twenty-three years and now receives a salary of £9O. Should the Board determine to dismiss this man as * not required,’ it is obvious that as he is without private means he will have a very slender chance of finding occupation at his time of life ; and the alternative suggested is that ‘he would probably next appear as an applicant for relief.’ I submit that the'Board has hitherto exercised one of the best forms of charity in retaining his services (even if not absolutely required), in order to spare an old servant the humiliation of so applying. The effect has been to make the office expenses somewhat higher than may be actually necessary, but I venture to think that the Board’s action under the circumstances will be approved by public opinion. “The finding of the Commission ‘that there is justification for the complaint of parsimony’ is qualified by the words ‘only in regard to the permanent dole issued.’ What I wish to have thoroughly understood is that the dole in question is based on the scale of rations in force for years before the Board was constituted. The several articles of food forming a daily ration for an adult consisted of certain quantities of bread, meat, potatoes, &c., sufficient to sustain life; and those quantities were procurable under contract for less than threepence. It was found, however, that, although orders were given for the specified quantities of such goods, the system was often abused by tbe sub-

stitution of other articles ; and the Board decided to extend the range of supplies composing a ration, and give recipients the choice of more or less of either kind up to the value of threepence at the contract prices. The alteration was generally appreciated, and the downward prices of commodities have operated distinctly in favour of recipients, so that in point of fact, they procure larger quantities now than formerly, besides having a wider selection of kinds; and until the recent agitation was aroused, complaints as to the alleged insufficiency have seldom been made. It should be remembered that the Board professes to ‘aid,’ not maintain, persons receiving outdoor relief. I believe that the scale compares favourably with that which obtains in the other chief centres in the colony; and I may also remind the Board that in some of the Australian Colonies there is no State system at all. I am prepared to allow that in some cases of men who have been temporarily housed in the Armagh Street Eepot pending vacancies in the permanent Home at Ashburton, and who may have been unable to work to supplement the ration allowance, this dole?appears to be inadequate; but I may point out that there has been no complaint of scarcity of food. The inmates have had supplies from other sources, and their condition affords proof that they have suffered no privation. It is entirely misleading to say that any person has had to live on only Is 9d per week, because besides the food, the shelter, fuel and bedding with medical attendance when necessary have to be taken into account. The few outdoor recipients who get from the Board only Is 9d per week are able to find their own quarters; and the amount of assistance they obtain in other ways it is often impossible to ascertain. That, in fact, is one of the soundest objections to the continuance —or even the existence —of the ont-relief system. “ I regret very much that on the fourth complaint, which was calculated to. affect tbe personal character of the Board’s Inspector, the finding of the Commission should have been indefinite. There are two remarks iu the report under this head to which I must direct the Board’s attention. The Commissioners ‘ cannot say that Buy greatsr weight should be attached to the accusation than to the denial,’ and ‘ it is in the Inspector’s favour .that tbe accusations generally originated from persona whose relief had been reduced or stopped.’ The conclusion arrived at is that this officer’s work should be undertaken by a woman, hut for my part I doubt whether it will not be found quite as necessary in some cases to retain the services of a man, as it might be considered desirable to employ a female inspector in others; and if so I fail to see how an increase of expense is to be avoided. “So much for the report on the specific complaints which the Commission was appointed to investigate. Other features of the Board’s work were also noted, and certain recommendations were appended. “As to the instance mentioned to show an apparent difficulty in dealing with cases outside Christchurch, I have to explain that the woman at Ashburton was an habitual recipient of outdoor relief, and there was nothing to have prevented her admission ‘to the Home at Woolston at first (as she was ultimately), without the necessity of her being arrested, unless the police had reasons of their own for arresting her, which do not appear in the report. As a matter of fact, a telegram from Ashburton procured her admission on the same day it was received; and in other cases requiring immediate attention at. places so far distant as Kaikoura, Amberley, &c-, the Board has dealt with applications without the slightest delay. “ The Board is keenly alive to the unsatisfactory position as regards tho maintenance of the Orphanage premises at Lyttelton; and it is to be hoped that legislation may place matters oa a better footing and enable the buildings to be utilised for some other purpose. It has been suggested that they might be adapted to the requirements of the institution for deaf mutes, to whom the ‘ boarding out’ system cannot so well be applied os to orphans and destitute children upder the Board’s care. Due provision will bo required for conserving the interests of the Orphanage in certain testamentary dispositions. "The Armagh Street Depot 13 used only as a casual ward, except when there are no vacancies at the Old Men’s Home. The condition of the premises has been much improved since the Commission was held. It will be readily understood that some destitute homeless men who are received into any shelter of the kind are not in the most desirable state of cleanliness, either of person or clothing, and it may be well to consider whether a process of fumigation and bathing should not be insisted upon as a first condition of being admitted. “It is gratifying to note that tho management of the Female Refuge is so highly commended. The rate of salaries paid to the officers is determined by the lessees, who undertake to conduct the institution for a given sum per annum, part of which is derived from an endowment.

“Respecting the Ashburton Home, it is hardly to be expected that the old immigration barracks would be as well suited to the present purpose as & modern building designed on approved principles. The Board is, however, in this position, that until extended powers are given by Act it is impossible to rate for new buildings, which appear to my mind to be as much required for housing a certain class of women referred to in the report, as for additional accommodation for aged men.

“ I have on many previous occasions expressed my conviction that there is abundant proof of the ‘necessity for a reform of the whole system,’ and I entirely agree with the remarks of the Commissioners on the many unsatisfactory results of the present method of encouraging undeserving, designing and insubordinate persona; but until some stronger measures are adopted for dealing with such persons and for exacting some return for tho relief they require at the public expense, I fear that the prospects of radical reform are still remote. ; “The restriction of outdoor relief, as suggested in the final clause of the report, wiiß in my opinion, best ne accomplished by the substitution of proper homes under strict regulations, whereby the enormous outlay for rents may be economised in accordance with the Commissioners’ recommendation.” Mr Peryman seconded the motion. He said that soon the recipients of charitable aid must be compelled to do something in return for the assistance given them. Mr Rennie said he thought the Commissioners had pointed out a weak spot in their references to the Orphanage. He thought that a committee should be appointed to consider the advisableneaa of closincr this institution. Mr Dunlop agreed with Mr Rennie’s remarks regarding tho Orphanage. As regarded the Armagh Street Depot, he believed that that institution had been closed by resolution of tho Board, He thought that a mistake had been made wheu the Board changed tho former weekly allowance of rations for money. He did not egree with the Commissioners when they said that they thought a female inspector would be a gain. He might point out that iu some cases the Board did use the services of lady inspectors. Mr Acton-Adams said be was glad to see that the Board came so well out of the inquiry. Ho would suggest that perhaps the Board might do away with the services of the inspector, if the police could be got to perform the duties. He agreed with the Chairman as regarded the assistant clerk. He also agreed with Mr Dunlop in his remarks about the rations. He thought that, now that the price of food had become so low, they might go back to the old system ot supplying rations. The Chairman, before putting tho motion, replied to some of the points raised by members. The motion was then put and carried. THE ORPHANAGE. Mr Dunlon moved—-" That a committee be ar/pcintecl to consider and report oa the best means of reducing the expenditure iu

connection with tbe Lyttelton Orphanage, the committee to consist of the chairman, Messrs Acton-Adams, J. T. Smith, Rennie, Chalmers, Peryman and the mover.” The motion was seconded by Mr Rennie and carried.

charitable aid committee’s report. The Charitable Aid Committee reported as follows; — The large increase in. the monthly average number of outdoor cases during the current financial year is a subject which demands the Board's earnest consideration. Four hundred and sixty separate cases, representing 1507 persons, were relieved in the course of last month, the figures for the corresponding month of 1894 being 427 cases (1390 persons) ; and 1893,399 (1357). The monthly average for a period of six years ended March 31, 1892, was 401; for the next two years it was 421; whilst during the past ten months it has risen to 463. This may indicate either a greater degree of actual poverty, or a tendency on the part of a larger proportion of the community to prefer claims to participation in public relief. The committee recommends the acceptance of a proposal to convey to the Board a small section of land in consideration of an allowance to the present owners during the remainder of their lives. Similar arrangements have been effected in several other cases of this kind. The committee has under- consideration the question of altering the present arrangements for supplying rations to the temporary inmates of the Armagh Street Depot. The report was adopted. The Treasurer reported that the receipts since last meeting had amounted to £563 18a, and the Chairman said that at the next meeting of the Board the estimates would be considered. The meeting then terminated.