ORGANISED CHARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 10

ORGANISED CHARITY.

RATIONALISATION URGED. PREVENTJ NG EXPLOITATION. GENERAL AUTHORITY SCHEME. PUBLIC CONFIDENCE NEEDED. A pica for the "rationalisation" of organised charity is made by a prominent city social worker. Already tho Herald has pointed to the existence of overlapping and exploitation by those of tho pauper spirit, special reference being nnado to the abseuco of adequate investigation into the. relief issued by the Hospital Board. Whatever system the missions and other charitable organisations have for preventing overlapping in their own work, it is clear that their central office is not frequently in touch with tho Hospital Board and one is aware that people of Samaritan instincts arc presenting lists of "deserving poor" which contain tho names of people already on tho board's books. In regard to other social service organisations it is obvious that unless they possess the confidence of the public their sources of revenue will dry up. It has been alleged from time to time that there is too strong a competitive spirit among them, that, the "overhead" of soma of them is too high, that their devotion to practical Christianity is not always governed by the wisdom that should be exercised f r| r the good of tho ' recipient, and that there is a possibility of keeping tho charity standard higher than the rehabilitation standard and so creating human wastage through mendicancy. Reduced Giving Power. Whatever arguments may surround these questions the following suggestions by tho worker mentioned will bo read with great interest:— "One of the most pressing concerns of the people to-day is tho extent and manner of our charitable activities. It is not merely that the percentage of those needing help has increased so extensively and rapidly, but rather that the. sources of bounty have become so desperately reduecd in numbers and strength. There aro very few concerns or individuals not affected by the adverse financial crisis and many of the social workers find that many bountiful givers in past years have now not the wherewithal to exercise their charity, and in many cases the regular helper in ordinary times is now actually in receipt of help. ' "There are firms and individuals who make a special point of making regular contributions to the cause of charity, and it is upon this class that the great burden is now falling. Should this group falter in its sympathy the cause of the unfortunate would be seriously affected. It is safe to assume that so long as this class possesses the means there will nlway bo a respoonse to a worthy appeal, but nevertheless tho position is developing that no section of the people to-day is inclined to give unquestioningly to anv relief fund, and if the charitable services are to be maintained on a satisfactory footing they must be so organised as to appeal with an assurance of efficient administration. A Certifying Authority. " The first and most urgent necessity is a responsible central body having knowledge of the varipus systems of relief and with a certain measure of confidence reposed iri it by tho various bodies now working in the cause of charity. This central body could certify as to the efficient functioning of an institution and its endorsement of an appeal would give confidence to those whose reduced circumstances make the matter of charity a question of prudent giving. This certifying authority would adjudicate in the matter of allocating free supplies as in tho caso of the farmers' gifts, and this alone would allay a cause of considerable friction where the smaller organisations have nourished a grievance in their inability to partake of the bounty sent to the city. " At the present time tho system is that bulk gilts aro consigned to a central office formed of five distributing organisations, all of whom contribute to a card index system, by means of which overlapping is minimised, if not prevented. This system ensures that at least, the gift produce from the country is efficiently distributed, but. it. does not, prevent the same ground being covered by outside organisations and it is an undoubted fact that this takes place. Cases are known where the skilful mendicant has discovered that the acceptance of relief from certain sources does not affect the main i source of charity and such an opening : when discovered is exploited to tho full, ; with usually one or more accomplices i after a time. i Prudent Giving. j " Granted the establishment, of a recognised and competent authority there then remains the co-operation of all j charitably-disposed persons to give only I through thoso channels which carry tho j assurance of efficient and economical adi ministration, and in particular % the avoidance of personal compliance with begging requests. Should the scheme of rationalisation of charity become effective it would follow that the professional mendicant would be diverted from the present streams of relief to resorting again to I casual begging and this activity would need to be strictly repressed. " In lien of this personal charity there could be operated a system of giving orders upon tho central authority. This 'would mean that instead of giving to beggars indiscriminately, the citizen could send help to the central fund and thereafter give to any deserving case an order for investigation and relief by the central office. This would relievo the giver of the embarrassment of jrefusal, yet would ensure that no unfair advantage was taken of tho gift. " This system already obtains among business firms of the city and its adoption by tho individual would do much to remove the evils at present existing and enable that confident support to be given to our charities which is so desperately needed in these critical times."