PARTICULARS OF CHARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 4

PARTICULARS OF CHARITY.

The proposal of the Departmental officials for the tabulation of particulars of persons who are in receipt of public relief was greatly objected to by Mr. Hogg at the meeting of the trustees of the Wellington Benevolent Institution. Considering that the information would be confidential and that tho professional pauperism which is fostered by our lax methods is a growing scandal in the Dominion, there does not seem to be any practical reason for this objection. There can be only one opinion as to the duty of the public in the treatment of cases where destitution has fallen upon those who have been ordinarily industrious citizens. These should be unhesitatingly assisted in as generous a manner as the public finances will allow and without any unnecessary unpleasantness to the unfortunates involved. But the difficulty is that a class is growing up .which looks upon aim staking as a much more pleasant way of obtaining a living than honest industry. Constant practice enables the professional paupers of this most objectionable class to reduce their tricks and methods to a fine art, and they can only be detected by rigid precautions. In the taking of these precautions against fraud and imposition genuine cases have to be investigated and tabulated. Which is. a great pity but quite unavoidable unless : public charity is to be allowed to escape entirely, beyond official control,,