THE AGED AND INFIRM POOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7222, 18 July 1884, Page 7

THE AGED AND INFIRM POOR.

A special meeting of the Benevolent Institution was held on Tuesday, for the purpose of considering a letter from the Colonial Secretary’s Department on the question of giving aid to the aged and infirm at present housed in the hospital. The Rev. W. H. West said that the committee, he thought, should come to some decision on the subject as to whether they should take charge of the 14 aged infirm men and three women who were in the hospital at present. Ho moved, pro forma, that the committee take charge of these persona. Ho did so, as he was aware that the Government were averse to the boarding-out principle as regards the infirm. The Rev. H. Van Stavcrcn seconded the motion pro forma. He thought that to board out these people would be merely to hurry them to their coffins. Of course, boarding-house keepers would not look after them; they would merely supply them with food. The Rev. J. Paterson would oppose the society being burdened with the care of these old people. He thought that the Government should obtain a cottage wherein they could be taken care of by the State. If these poor people wore boarded out, it would cost at least 15s per week per head; indeed, he considered that it would cost the Government more than that sum each per week if they were thrust out of the hospital. It would be far better that, until the Government erected an almshouse for the aged infirm poor, they should take charge of the people indicated. He was quite opposed to them being upon the institution, more especially as he did not believe that there was not sufficient room in the hospital for them. Councillor Banka thought that the hospital authorities should take charge of the old people. They had the money so to do, and he should, in the future as in the past, oppose the motion for boarding the old men out, more especially as there was an empty ward in the hospital. The Rev W. 0. Oliver considered that it would be inhuman to take the people from the hospital. Why, ha asked, should not the Government act here as they did elsewhere, and erect a homo for the aged poor ? He should supjinrt the amendment proposed by the Rev air Paterson. The Rev P, Kerrigan followed in support of the previous speaker, as he considered that the country would be subjected to a greater expense by tneir being boarded out than if they were kept in the hospital. The Rev W. H. West expressed himself as being still of the same opinion. The committee should, he thought, be consistent, and if they considered that those persons in the hospital should bo detained in that institution a number of other aged and infirm people who were hoarded out by the society should also ba sent to that institution. After discussion, Mr West’s motion was withdrawn, and the Rev J. Paterson’s amendment, that the request of the Government be not complied with, was carried. The meeting then adjourned.