THE CHARITABLE AID CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3265, 23 October 1897, Page 4

THE CHARITABLE AID CONFERENCE.

a deputation to the govben*. MENT. Yesterday morning the members of the Charitable Aid Conference waited, on the Premier and the Hon Mr Walker, Minister for Charitable Institutions, and laid the tesiilt of the Conference before them. : Mr J. Si Define; Chairman, of the Coni feren'ce) 'said the Conference had been an entirely Icon-political- one. It had simply dealt with. questions relating to charitable- aid. The former administration had given general dissatisfaction, and more especially with.; regard to what was known as separate institutions under the Act. The Conference had aUo considered the distribution of relief, the question of outdoor relief and the labour test, and had come to the concluson that- farms and industrial institutions should be established in the latter connection near the large centres, and it desired the assistance of the Government, as, the item would be a heavy one. The law required amending regarding the desertion of wives and families, an 1 the Conference desired to see reciprocity between the colonies in this respect. Mr Devine traversed the recommendations of the Conference (already published) at length.

The Hon Mr Walker, as Minister in charge of charitable institutions, felt sure the Conference had done good work, and that the direction in which it was moving was a right one. Eegarding separate institutions, he agreed that the body which raised the money should have the right of spending it. There were many anomalies under the present arrangement, and the -subject was one that had not been satisfactorily settled in any country. The system had been in advance of any other when it had been commenced, but at the same time it required revision. With the experience of the last 12 years, he felt sure that the deliberations of the Conference would throw a good deal of light on the matter, and he was sure its suggestions would receive every consideration. Eegarding labour farms, he thought the Conference had secured the true solution of the difficulty, and the Government would gladly co-operate in bringing about a better state of things. The business aspect of charitable aid was a subject on which he must make some remark.; Ho had when he assumed office remarked to Dr MacGregor on the want of statistics relating to charitable aid, and a circular had been sent out asking for a better system of returns. It had, however, done little good, as the boards Complained that it would be an extra expense. He disagreed with this; and thought that the establishment of shch A system would be a gi'-idd to the Government. In conclusion, he could only say that the deliberations of the Conference would make the whole question easier for the Government to deal with.

The Premier, after referring to the indebtedness of the Government to the members of the Conference for the trouble they had'taken in attending in Wellington and giving up their time to the subject, went on to say that it was a difficult and intricate subject to deal with. He had listened carefully to what had been said, and had watched carefully their proceedings, and he had noticed that they had touched on the question of subdivision and declared against it. He had noticed this particularly, because pressure had been brought to boar on the Government by some of the country districts to further subdivide the areas in which charitable aid was administered. He was agreeably surprised to find that there was a general consensus of bpialoli that the present larger divisions should remain. Referring to this question, he had no hesitation in saying that they had too touch government in this country, and the Local Government Bill which he had introduced last session, and would introduce again this session, went in the direction of reducing the number of lot&l bodies. As an installed he referred to four local bodies with which he had been connected on the West Coast, and the whole of the busi”' if whi -ught ha- - do’

business of which might have been done by one board. The whole thing pointed to centralisation, and with the assistance of his colleagues ho hoped to bring this about. Referring to separate institutions for affording relief he said they he'd always worked well in the p&ht, especially with regard tC hospital relief, but at that time there was ho legal status, the committees were entirely dependent and acted as feeders to the central, societies. If the matter was left entirely in the, hands of the boards, the spirit of, time benevolence would rapidly become a dead letter., The voluntary system had, been a; much better system than the present. Charitable aid legislation as it how stood oh the Statute Boot, he had no, hesitation in sayings had commenced to breed paupers. The present Act wanted revision, and it would be wise to bring in outside assistance. The direction in which they were going at present was entirely killing public subscription. Then the question Was raised that those who supplied the money should have the spending of it. It was a question as to who found the money. If they said it was those who paid the rates, then he was at issue at once. The money was found just as much by those who occupied as by those who were absolutely ratepayers. The Charitable Aid Boards were at present composed of ratepayers or the owners of real estate, There should be wider representation—(" Hear, hear ”) — and if this was done in all "probability the demand for legal status and separate institutions. would die out. Referring to the question of applications for relief which were often made that should not bo made, Mr Seddon said there was a feeling growing up in this country that was derogatory. He knew persons applied for relief and received it who Wet'e not entitled to it. This led others to apply, until the question of charity had been lost sight of, and then the Boards came claiming legislation. They were themselves" to; blame more than the people who received relief. They had lost sight .of the proper mode of dealing with the matter. Regarding the loafer; he Was at one with the deputation. He understood that they desired to plit these men whbro. thby Biust either work or slC.r'rC, In Germany they had an effective way of dealing with such cases. They must’ not, however, interfere with the liberty of the subject—rather a delicate matter in this country—but fellows who would, not work should be Made to. It might lead to their reform. At Home he had had opportunities of enquiring into the farms under the allspices of the Salvation Army; attd he thought they might be copied With advantage. As fat as State farms were Concerned, they were only supplementing and’ helping In the solution of a difficult pfobleih. For inany years he had held that State farms were necessary. There were people who were not fitted to do a fair share of work and compete with I their fellows under ordinary circumstances, and If thS State stepped in and found a Since for them where they could grow pronote which would be. used,, by, the State they were not interfering with the ordinary producer and had a chance to live. The Government intended extending the State farm system in the direction he had indicated. So they ] would see that the most important questions they had dealt with bad not escaped the attention* of the Government. The Government Was most ahxionsto perfect the charitable aid ey i tern. With regard to the old age pension scheme, it-would help the matter consider-, ably and would not be a: further tax onthe ratepayers. He hoped the result would be. that the State Would have less to pay. Speaking on the question of wife desertion, he thought every facility should bo given to encourage reciprocity between the colonies. . Those scoundrels who deserted their, wives should be punished severely. He thought they should go further. The law might he extended to make the relations of the deserter support the deserted. The bar to reciprocity was the expense of sending a policeman to Australia, and in these days of economy the community lost sight of the ultimate: good*and made the Government inclined to wink at growing sores. ’Ho would’'like to make such examples'of the men: who- were ‘so heart- : less as to desert their wives and children as would prevent them doing it again. In conclusion, he again thanked them for their trouble, and said their representations -would be placed before Cabinet,- and the result would be -known: in due course, when the Government -would- bring down legislation dealing with the matter; A formal vote of thanks to the Premier was passed and the deputation withdrew.