CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8404, 4 November 1890, Page 6

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon at the offices, Highstreet, when there were present: Messrs. C. Atkin (chairman), Dignan, Swales, Kidd, Bollard, Mays, and Udy. Reports.—The medical superintendent reported that on the date of the last report there were 58 male and '28 female patients in the Hospital. Since then 35 males and 10 females had been admitted. One man had died. There were remaining at present 79 males and 38 females. The house steward's report was of a routine character. Mr. Bartley, architect, reported upon the weather tightness of the Costley Home and the Nurse's Home, and reeommened some tritling alterations to overflow pipes. There was some dampness on ono of the walls at the Costley Uome, due to soak age through the bricks. He suggested that in summer the bricks should bo coated with ''silicato." Mr. Atkin said he thought that these troubles with the bricks should have been pointed out to the Board. The bricks in the gables had never been dry. Mr. Bartley pointed out that there had been very heavy rains lately. Mr. Kidd said two or three old men with rheumatics wcresleepiugclosetothe.sedamp walls. Some remedy must be found at once. He moved, " That the matter bo referred'to the Home Committee to consult with the architect and report on the best means of remedying the evil. In reference to leakage at the Nurses' Home it was decided to refer the matter to the House Committee, with power to act.

Coal Supply.—The secretary explained that the concession of 2s per ton to the contractor for supplying coal to the Board expired 011 the I.lth November. The contractor replied to the Board's letter that he would continue to supply coals as usual till the end of the contract at 2s advance ; but if the price of coal fell ho would again supply it at contract price. Costley Home.—There are now 115 men and .'l3 women in the Costley Home. The Home Committee recommended that in future all cases of temporary admissions to the Home should be dealt with by the committee when the first period of admittance had expired. The committee made the following recommendations :—John Savages, to be discharged November 3rd ; Ann Clark, to remain, her property having been attached ; B. Connelly, to remain, and his brother to bo sued for maintenance ; Claudius Nixon, J. Brady, and Wootton, to remain ; A. McCarthy, to remain for another month, his tobacco to be stopped if ho refuses to work.

Charitable Aid Committee. — The Charitable Aid Committee recommended the admission of the following to the Costley Home : —Michael Ryan, James Cope (if the Bay of Islands Committee pay 10s per week), James Campbell, and Joseph Gledhill. The Board adopted the report, and decided to grant a passage to Westpcrt to Mrs. Webber, and to admit Elizabeth Mercer to the Home. The Charitable Aid Committee reported 011 the case of two men, Wm. Brown and John Pauley, "two well-known paupers of New Plymouth sent to Auckland by the Taranaki Board to get rid of them." The secretary of the Auckland Board had telegraphed to the Taranaki Board, asking whether the Auckland Board should send them back or keep them at the cost of the Taranaki Board. A reply was received to the otfect t'at the Taranaki Board had paid their passage to Auckland as they were able bodied men, and not fit subjects for charitable aid. The visiting officer explained that they had gone off to the gumficlds. It was resolved to empower the committee to send the men back to New Plymouth as soovi as they returned to Auckland.

House Committees' Report.— The House Committee reported recommending the Board to invite tenders for the purchase and removal of the old hospital buildings. The matter was deferred till there was a full meeting of the Board. The committee also reported that they had directed that letters bo written to Che medical officers to the dispensary and Costley Home asking whether they would act as paid consultants at the Hospital. Dr. King had replied that for many reasons he could not do so. Dr. Hooper replied accepting the offer of the committee. The report was adopted. Outdoor Relief.—Mr. Bollard moved, "That half-a-pound of meat be added to the daily ration of all persons over GO years of age who are now receiving outdoor relief from this Board." In speaking in support of his motion Mr. Bollard said it had struck him for some time that they had been acting very inconsistently in the matter of relief. Many old people outside the Costley Home were quite as deserving as those in that institution ; and yet while they spent 5s Cd a-week per inmate in the Home, they compelled the old people outside to live on Is 6d a-week. This miserable pittance was not sufficient to keep body and soul together. He knew several old people who supplemented this relief by begging. He thought the present system of piving relief was a very bad one, and they were simply pauperising the community. They would never have it properly administered till they had workhouses. If the applicants had to go into the workhouse they would not bo so ready to sponge on the Board. Fully half the people receiving outdoor relief did not deserve it. But if any of them deserved relief they should get enough to support them, and those who did nob deserve it should bo cub off altogether. Mr. Dignan seconded the motion. Mr. Atkin said a great d'-.d of bartering and selling meat for driuk had taken place. That was one reason why meat was nob given. It had been thought wise to provide in a scant way for those outside, for they were able to get other means of livelihood. They had opportunities of earning money denied to those in the Home. Mr. Kidd said it would cost the Board £450 a year extra if the motion was passed. T' 's, however, was subsequently denied, the secretary's estimate being £228 2s (id. Mr. Kidd said he would be very sorry to build up a workhouse system in this young colony. Mr. Mays thought the matter could be fairly left to the Charitable Aid Committee to deal with. Mr. Bollard, in reply : If there were old people deserving relief the Board hud no right to force them to go round begging. It was disgraceful for the Board while they fed the men in the home like fighting-cocks to put the old people outside in such a position. If they sold meat for drink they would sell other rations as well. The motion simply meant increasing the expenditure on these old people from Is (id a week to 2s 3d. The motion was carried by four to two, Messrs. Udy and Mays being the only opponents to the proposition. Destitute Children.— Mr. 0. Mays gave notice to move, 'VThat the Charitable Aid Committee bo instructed to find homes in the country for the 20 destitute children now being boardod out with j private families in the city."