HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 29

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

A public meeting was held at the Athenaeum on Monday night to consider whether the funds requiied for the Hospital and charitable aid shall be raised by voluntary contributions or by special rate. About 150 people were present, and the Hon the Premier (Sir Robert Stout) presided. The Chairman, after referring to the object oE the meeting, said that up to last year the hospital and charitable institutions of the Colony had been almost entirely maintained by the Government out of the consolidated revenue. The cost of that maintenance was getting so expensive in consequence of there being no local bodies to watch over it, that it was found necessary to have some other system of management, Iu some districts—-

principally in the country—hospital and benevolent institutions had only been partiallymaintained by the Government, but in Otago the institutions had been maintained by private subscriptions subsidised by Government. A Bill was therefore passed giving more power to call upon the local bodies for' aid. In Wellington a Hospital Board had been created, and for the country districts a United Board had been appointed, and the question was whether they could, without imposing a special rate, raise sufficient money by voluntary contributions to relieve the necessities of those suffering from sickness and distress. He did not think it impossible. Iu parts of Australia it had been done, and he instanced what had been effected in Victoria by tbe initiation ef Hospital Sundays, &c. He did not think that in this Colony they would have more difficulty in raising money for the purpose than was experienced anywhere else. He would give one or two reasons why efforts should be made to raise at all events some money to meet charges upon the local districts. He did not think that at first they would be able to raise the money required. To start anything required time, aud to induce people to subscribe money for the purpose indicated required a Bort of education. It was said that if you levied rates those who had property would have to pay, and therefore yon would be relying upon those who should be well able to bear the expense. There was something in that argument ; but what they had to consider was what was the best for us as a race. He would point out some things that they had to keep continually before them. Two or three things were necessary for the welfare of the people. They must take care not to destroy the individuality—the self-respect of the people. If they trained people to believe that the State would feed and clothe them, they would do this. If they did this, they would be sowing noxious seeds that would spring .up in the future. They must all strive to live for others; for they could only be bound together as a community by having this feeling. If they did not have this feeling, but lived only for themselves, they would train people to look to the State. If they wanted to encourage self-reliance, selfrespect, they must train the poor to think that they were getting the sympathy of others, and were not left to depend upon an Act of Parliament. If the Benevolent Institutions did their work properly, they would not only unite the people by kindly acts, but woald try to raise those in distress to a higher platform. That was the duty of a benevolent institution—not to pare down a shilling here and sixpence there. If people could not find work, an effort should be made to find it for them. He referred to the work done by the Jewish Philanthropic Institution, which advanced to those in need money which, when repaid, was lent out again. If they could da that, they would be accomplishing what could not be done otherwise. But it was not a mere question of money. Their duty to the community was not only to preserve their selfrespect, but to look after what might be termed the weeds, and try to raise them to a higher platform. They should treat people in distress with kindly care, and they would in turn help those who were distressed and in want. When calls had been made oa occasions of disaster needing assistance the people of New Zealand.'responded at once, and he believed they could get pleßty of means with proper co-operation. He hoped those starting the movement would not ba discouraged, although all kinds of discouragement might stand in their way. He instanced what had been done at Home by a number of apprentices and others who could not get to school, and who desired to, educate themselves. At first they had no money to buy books and paper, but some twenty of them set to work and asked the people to assist, and the result was that at the end of the first year they bad more money than they knew what to do with. He instanced what had been done in Philadelphia and in California by men who had devoted millions of money to philanthropic purposes. In New Zealand they had not many men who had amassed much money, but if they continued to prosper and an altruistic feeling was created, doubtless many would be found to act as others elsewhere had done. As others were about to speak he would not detaiu them further. Sir Robert then concluded by reading a letter from the Rev L. M. Isitt regretting his inability to attend, and enclosing two guineas iu aid of the object of the meeting, The Mayor took occasion to convey on behalf of the citizens hearty and sincere congratulations to Sir Robert on the honor that Her Majesty had thought fit to bestow on him. He believed there -was no man in New Zealand who could bear- the honor better than Sir Robert. The Mayor then moved the following resolution :—“ That in the opinion of this meeting it would not be to the credit of citizens of Wellington to have a rate struck for the support of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions of the city, and that an organised effort be made to raise funds by other means. . He thought he was right in saying that it was believed in by the great majority of the people of New Zsaland. The special rate would be unfair if it fell upon only one class in the community, for all should contribute. It was only right that those who owned property should support the institutions, but those for whose benefit they were established should also contribute, a 3 also employers of labor whose wealth was amassed by the aid of thoae wh were compelled at times to seek relief. .He had spoken recently to people who had just come from the Old Country, and they agreed that a poor rate was a curse. If a rate, were struck only some 2500 out of the population of the city would subscribe. He read from a table, which he had prepared, showing that there were 7000 adults in the city who, if divided into classes, would be able to contribute according to their means, from 2s to £lO. By this means, according to his calculation, £4OOO could be raised, and they only wanted £4500 altogether. He found by the valuation list that there were fourteen persons in the city who would have to pay about £2O if the rate were struck, so that they ought to get fifty persons to subscribe £lO per annum. He instanced tho success of the late concert on the wharf, which had realised £2lO, and considered that a striking example of what could be done if people set their minds to organise means of raising money. The people who had recently played “Patience ’ so successfully would also assist them. Funds could also be raised by a hospital Saturday and Sunday, performances, balls, &c., and lectures by Sir Robert Stout, Sir Georga.

<srey, and others, who would doubtless be glad to assist so laudable an object. The Opera House people might also be induced to open the house with a benefit for the charitable institutions, as it would be a splendid advertisement for them. He had a conversation recently with Sir Julius Vogel, and they liad agreed that it would be a desirable thing to collect 1 per cent, from the money that passed through the totalisator, and devote it to charitable purposes. There were many other suggestions that might by taken up by the committee which was to be appointed that evening. He had no doubt that if the matter were taken up energetically they would be able to do without a special rate. The City Council had decided that for three months they would not strike the rate. If at the end of that time it could be shown that something like an organised effort was being made, be thought he would be able to get the Council to stay its hand, but if in six months nothing was done they would have to strike the rate. He sincerely hoped that Wellington would be able to show the Colony that it could do without a poor ra! e. , . The Eev H. Van Staveren seconded the motion, because his mind revolted against the idea of a poor-rate. He referred to tne people who had been sent to the Benevolent Institution from the Hospital before they were convalescent, and instanced the cases of distress that had come under Ms notice.. He did not agree with all that had been said about balls and performances, &c.» but thought if boxes were sent round to people’s bouses and tne money deposited in them collected at certain intervals they would find that nearly all would subscribe. He was sanguine that the movement would be successful. The motion was then put and carried. Mr F. H. Fraser moved, “ That the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, be a committee to devise means for .raising the necessary funds, viz :—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Williams, Coombes, Petberick, Wilson, and Hanks, the Revs Messrs Van Staveren and Isitt, Messrs Tustin, W. R. Waters, C. Midlane, F. H. Haybittle, W. Allan, A. Levy, J. O’Shea, F. Cohen, H. Gaby, Jacob Joseph, John Webbe, John Young, W. E. Tyson, A. B. Jones, Captain Williams, and the movei.” He quoted from a letter received from Mr Abbott, of Melbourne, who had written to him on the subject of hospital maintenance in Victoria. He was glad to hear Sir Robert Stout’s remarks about educating the people to give, and he thought much could be done by teaching children in Sunday-schools to help in such matters, A poor rate would merely dry up the springs of benevolence. He was not quite so saDguine as some people, but he believed that" in two or three years the money would be ■raised by voluntary subscription all over the Colony if Wellington eould do it. Mr Petherick seconded the motion, and spoke hopefully of the movement. He had pleasure in announcing that Mr Jacob Joseph bad permitted him to say that he would give a donation of 25 guineas. (Applause.). The motion was then put and carried. X)r Grace moved a vote of thanks to Sir Robert Stout (for presiding, and alluded in laudatory terms to that gentleman’s career and the eßteem in which he was held in the Colony. He also went into the charitable aid question from a national point of view. After some remarks from two gentlemen in the body of the tall, the motion was put and carried with acclamatien. Sir Robert briefly replied, expressing his thanks for the kindly remarks made concerning him by Dr Grace, and his desire to be of service on that or on any other occasion. The proceedings then terminated.