CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2157, 27 June 1895, Page 23

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The annual meeting of members of the Central (Hugo, Tuspeka, and Otago Charitable Aid Board was held iv the Ciby Council Chambers on ThimcUy alWrnoon, there being present — Messrs J. Robin (in the chair), H. Clark, W. Snow, H. Gourley, H. F. Hardy, D. Wallace, J. R. MoDson, J. Hazlett, J. Green, P. Miller, P. M'Gregor, J. F. Christian, and P. Black (secretary). chairman's remarks. The Chaikman, in openiug, said : It is not my intention to detain jou with any lengthened remarks. The report of the committee deals with the matter appertaining to the funcbious of the board in a clear and intelligible manner. The Government have indicated their intention to bring in a bill during the icasion (to open to-day) for the purpose of consolidating local government, and we may expect that aoma r*diosl change will be made in the manner of administering charitable aid aud the manage* I raent of hospitals. If judiciously done it will, no doubt, be beneficial, but not so if it is placed j in the hauds of some aubtcrat residing in Wei- | iington wielding absolute power, as is the case with our Industrial School ; and when we remember th« benefits that were promised to flow from the abolition cf the provinces, and the great pecuniary advaatagos that would result from tue change, onecanaot help looking forward with a degree of apprchmsiou aud anxiety as to what the Government may bring forward in this direction. No doubt there aro too many admit istering bodies at present in connection with hospital aud charitable aid. Either the trusttes of the HospiUl and Benevolent Institution should be done away with, or elso this board. I have had » lietuf each year's expenditure on charitable aid i within this district tabulated, showing the pay- ! ments made by the bosrd since 1886, wnen the j aot first came into operation, which I will not read, but will hand to the pres3 for publication ; and although the amouat is now larger j thau it was during the flrafc year of our ! existence, I thick, considering the period of distress we have passed through, asd which is skill existing with even more iatensity, the increase is really infinitesimal, aud the trurties of the benevolent and other kindred irstilutious are to be commended for the great ca,i c and economy they have exercised in the discharge of their arduous and unpleasant duties. In 1888, the first full year in which we worked J on the same lines as now, the baard's disbursements were £12,059 18 i sd ; in 1894 95, £14,281 9i 3d, or an iuoroaeo of. £2221 | 10i lOd. Thia, I should say, wii! give | about the same percentage per head of the population of those receiving relief from the public funds at both periods. Ib is often eaid that our preisent system encourages pauperism. So will any system to a greater or less extent, but I have carefully examined the quarterly returns gent this board by the Benevolent Institution, and I i can find no able-bodied man has received more than the most temporary relief, those on the funds beiDg in circumstances of distress which demand of the publio that relief which has been granted to them. I hold in my hand a letter— too long for me to read— from the Rev. Mr North, and which I will also hind to the press for publication. The position reld by Mr ! North in our midst, his known zeal in helping on all good works, theearne&t attention and tha substantial relief he >s alwayß ready to give to the poor will, I am sure, cause his opinions on outdoor relief to receive careful oons-ideration at the hands of all tbonghlf ul men and women. He has compiled from a reliabla nource the character and conditions of all receiving help within the city, and there doss nob appear to be a single able-bodied man in the who'e j lisi. There is great difficulty sometimes in dealing with country districts. I myself have heard residents in the country say, when closely questioned about the circumstances of Bomeono for whom they wanted help : " Oh, well, we contribute largely to the fund, and we are entitled to something in return." j I dent think I netd say much more, bat, to summarise, tho board's expenditure last year was £14,281. Thn €stimitc3 for this year aro £14,840, including the £150 (required over snd above the Government grant of £700) to finish the alceratiors and additions to the Female j Refuge, cr £659 more than was spent in charitable aid last y<ar. Arid leb vi cherish the hope that the estimate will fully cover the expenditure ; tnd this we may reasonably do, as the money now raised and beiug ppent by the Relief Committee must considerably lessen the demands that would otherwise require to be made on, and satisfied by, the Benevolent Institution. I have often of late expressed the hope and the be'ief that business would coon improve, with no better reason than the old out — viz., that " when things come to the worst they ! generally mend." And surely they reached this stage a short time ago, when a painter in town tendered for work tor which the Government pay 6d per yard, (hey finding the naatarial, and this man'B tender was for material and labour a^; about 2d per ya-d. Whether this had anything to do with the change or not I do not pretend to say, but the fact is the price of moat of cur products is increasing, and tUero is a much better prospfefc for our termers, which in due course will benefit; the whole community. — (Applause.) The return of payments alluded to by the chairman as having been ma.de by the board to the several inst'tutions shows the following disbursements :—: — 18SG —Benevolent Inrfit-itinn, JEICOO; Caverslum Industrial fc-choin, £2t ; Dune«lin Female Refuge, £26 153 4d ; board expenses, £'60 7s lOd ;— total, £1111 3s 2d. 1887. - Benevolent Institution, £5151 4s 7d (double subhidy) ; Caversbam Industrial School, £1377 18s 8d ; 6t. Mary's Industrial School, £61 ; Auckland Industrial School, £7 Ib'i 4d ; Dunedin Female Refuge, £172 lGs 2d ; board expenses, .£159 2s 8d -,-total, £0929 38s sd. ]888.- Benevolent Institution, £8714 Is 8d (including building, £t;00) ; Cavershain Industrial School, £2530 ; St. Mary's Industrial School, £288 ss ; Dunedin Female Refuge, £370 11s lid (includine building, £22f1) ; board expenses, £136 3i 2d ; sundries, lGs -,-total, £12,059 17s 9d. 1889.— Benevolent Institution, £BSO3 9s 4d ; Caversham Industrial School, £2133 19s 3d ; St. Mary's Industrial School, £32" 33 ; Dunedin Female Refuge, £162 0s Id ; board expenses, £122 8s lOd: sundries, £7 13s 9d ;-total, £11,556 1890.— Benevolent Institution. £8706 17s 8d ; Caversham Industrial School. £3250 11s lid ; St. Mary's Industrial School, £305 Is ; Dunedin Female llefuee, £91 14s Id ; board expenses, £121 9d lid ;-total, £12,535 14s 7d. 1891 — Benevolent Institui ion, £8704 19< ; Cavevsham Industrial School. £2903 14s 4d ; St. Mary's Indus-rial School, £279 9s; Dunedin Female Refuge, £100 ; board expenses, £123 3s 9d :— total, £12,237 0s Id ]BL>2 -Benevolent lufititu'ion, £Bfi97 9>; (Liversham Industrial .School, £2250 ; .St Mary's Industrial School, £322 0s 6d ; Duuedin Female Refuge, £131 5- s>l ; board expenses, £12$ 12s 3d ;— total, £12,529 7s 2J. 1893. -Benevolent Institution, £9000; Cavershftin Industrial SchooJ. £3605 18s Od : St. Mary's Industrial School, £381 7a Cd ; Auckland Industrial t-chool, £7 11b 8d ; Dunedin Female Refuee, £119 13s : board expend, £lis 5i ; sundries, £54 IG* lOd ;-total, £13,294 12s 6d. 18'i4.— Benevolent Institution, £9946 11s 7d ; Caversham Industrial School, £3078 3s 2d; St. Mary's Industrial School, £453 17s; Auckland

f Industriil School, £87 6a 6d ; Burnham lml a*t rial School, £38 Ob 8i ; Dunedin Female Refuge, £131 ! 12s 8d ; board expenses, £133 7s 8d ; sundries, £8 18s fid ;—total, £13,877 17s 9d. ! 1895.—Benevolent lustilution, £10,2£9 ISs Sd; Cavereham Indust'inl School, £ 2IM 2s 9d ; St. 1 Mary's Industrial Sclu.o). £3»9 i)s 6d ; Auckland Industrial School, £07 )&) 3d; Burnham Industrial School, £«WBs6'd; Dun"rtiu Female Refuge, £K»3 8s 9il ; board expenses. £119 Us 2d ; sundries, * £20 14s 2d ;-total, £U,2819s 3d. The to'al expsndifcure for the 10 years, aa dealt with In the above return, amounts to £110,414 0s lid, but, in order to arrive at a fair approximate of the total expenditure, it is necessary to iaclude revenue of institutions from sources other than the bowd, and this, sa far as ascertainablts is as follows:—Banevolent Institution, £20,437 9s sd; Female Refuge, £2951 12q 10d i;—total, £23,389 2» 3d; which, when added with the total expenditure of the board, leaves a grand total of £133,803 3s 2d. PERSONAL. The Chairman said the first buiiness he had to bring before members wa< a personal one. He regretted very much he had to do it. Ho moved—" That this board desires to express its heartfelt sympathy with Mr Soow in the bereavement he has sustained owing to the painfully accideutal death of his son." He (Mr Robin) thought ho did not need to say anything in support of tho motion. Mr Snow had been a very useful member, and bis lereiceß and advice to the board had been most valuable. —(Hear, hear.) Mr Goorley seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. ANNUAL BEPOBT. The following is the annual report of the General Committee: — - Following past custom, your committee has the honour at thi*, the real annual meeting of tho b)&rd. to submit tho following information in regard to such charitable aid transactions as it has fallon to t'leir lot to deal with :— Your committee regret that, notwithstanding frequent endeavours, the board have as yet failed to get the end of our financial year altered to the 31st December, so as to admit of an audited balance sheet being presented at the meeting of the bo>ird for btrikiug the annual rate. Such information in regard to financial matters for the past year is contained in the follow ing summary of receip's and expenditure for the year ended 31st Mnrchlß9s:Recoipts —Balance Ist April 1894. £781 38 5d ; contributions of local authorities, £6483 10a lid; Government subsidy, £6732 IBs lid; Public Trustee, 3s 3d ; overdraft 31st March 1895, £640 16s 9d ;-total, £14,281 9s 3d. Expenditure.—Benevolent Institution, £10,229 38s 21; Female Refueo, £103 8a 9d ; Caveraham Industrial Hohool, £3284 2a 9d; St. Mary's Indußttial School, £309 93 Cd ; Auckland Industrial School, £97 16s 3d; Burnham Industrial School, £40 8s 6i; sundries, £140 5s 4d;-total, £14,281 9a 3d. Statement of Liabilities and Assets.—Dr: To Caversham School, £790 19a 7d ; St. Mary's School, £12093Gd; Auckland School, £121G36J; Burnham School, £13 3s sd; sundry accounts. £11 8s 9d; bank overdraft, £(510 iss 9d ; excess of assets over liabilities, £257 19s 8d ;-total. £1847 13s 2d. Cr: Contributions outstanding, £d4O 4s sd; Government—viz , subsidy on contributions outstanding, £640 4s Ed; subsidy on contributions collected, £sfi7 4s 4d ;-total, £184713s Ed. Commenting on the foregoing figures, your committee would point out that iv the caße of the Benevolent Institution about £229 has been paid in excess of estimate. In the case of tha Cavar3ham Industrial School the excess over estimate has been £248. In St. Mary's Industrial School the excess has been £49, and in Aucklaud and Burnham Schools £3 : in all making a gross excess over estimates of about £529. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. From returns furnished by the secretary of the Benevolent Institution we are enabled to give the following particulars :— Receipts.- Balance Ist April 1891, £113 8s 9d; Charitable Aid Board, £i 0,2.'9 18a 2d; other sources, £1913 10s 3d ;—total, £12,267 3s 21. Expenditure.-Outdoor relief, £7373 12s 2d; other expenditure, £4741 0b 9d; balance 31st March 1895, £142 10s 3d ;-total, £12,257 3a 2d. In reference to this statement your committee note that the expenditure on account of outdoor relief is £021 in excess of last year, and the charges for general maintenance £405 in excess of last year; whilst on the other hand the receipts from sources other than the board have increased by the Bum of £421. 'J he number of outdoor relief cas js on the books of the institution ou the Ist February 1895 was 3i)3, as compared with 397 at the corresponding date of last year, or a reduction of 4. i The number of inniateß in the institution a3 at ' tho 31st March 1895 is returned as 259, as compared with 232 at the corresponding date of Hsb year, being an increase of 27. FKMALE UEI'UGE In regard to this institution your committee beg to submit the following particulars :— Receipis.-Ba'ance Jsfc April 1894, £(> 18a 0d ; laundry work, £308 0s lOi ; Charitable Aid Board, £103 7s Od; sundry receipts, £3 10s ;-total, £421 16s lOd. Expenditure.—Salary of matron, £00 ; salary of laundresß, £30; city and water rates, £7 19a; funeral, £3 10s; general maintenauce, repairs, &c, £314 5s 8d ; balance 31st March 1895, £3 2s 2d :-fotal, £42116\j 10d. The above figures approximate pretty closely to those of last year, except that the claims upon tho board have been less by the sum of £'23, and the expenditure for general maintenance, Ac. less by £31. The particulai-3 in rozard to inmates are as follow:—Number of inmates Ist April 1894, 7 women, 2 children ; admitted during the year, 18 women, 4 children ;— total, 25 women, 6 children. Less number left during the year, 10 women, 3 children ;— leaving in the institution on March 31, 1895,15 women, 3 children. Of th« women discharged duriDg the year five are returned as havinjc gone to situations, one sent to her home, and three have fallen back to old ways. The above records Bhow that the Ladies Management Committee again deserve the best thanks of the Loard for the success of their manog-ment. , In'regard to improvements now being effected in the Jiefuge builaingß, your cominitteo have to report tut fair progress has been made with the work. Up to date projrreFs payments have been made amounting to £340, whilst £360 has been received from the Government out of the £700 grant for the purpose. The contract price for the building in connection with this work is £690, in addition to which £30 ia required for temporary accommodation for Jaundry work during progress of improvements. These items, together with architect's fees, and a few small extras, will bring the total cost up to about £600, or £100 beyond the Government graut. The latter sum, therefore, remains to be provided for. On the subject ot Industrial School children, we have to submit the following information :— The number of children chargeable against the board in the various schools as per returns to 31st March are aB follow :—Caverabam Industrial School, 188;-St. Mary's Industrial School (Nelson), 28 • Aucklaud Industrial School, 3; Burnham Indus'rial School (Canterbury), 3 -,-total, 222. At the corresponding date of laat year the number was 216, showing an increase of six for the year. Of the 222 children above stated, 192 are paid for at the rate of (ii 6d per week, 11 at the rate of 7s, and 1!) at the rate of 7s 6d. Last year the rates were: 167 at Gi t)d, 12 at 7a, and 37 at 7s Cd. ESTIMATES. Your committee beg to submit the following estimates for the current financial year, as received —

Comparing the foregoing statementß, it will bt seen that the estimates for the current yea* exceed those of last year by" tho sum of £804accounted lor by the increaso In the estimates ol Ben&vilent Institution, Caversham Induitrial School, and St. Mary's Industrial School (Nelson). There has aho to be added the sum of £640, the amount of the board's overdraft as at the 31st March last. The board will remember that while tho Benevolent Institution estimate for last year was £10,000 we only levied £9509, and this has often caused us to be overdrawn during the currencyfof the year to the extent of £1300. The reduction of levy was made in the hope that business would improve, and that a better demand would nrlse for our producn in the foreign as well as the local markets, and thus reduce the pressure on account of charitable aid. Unfortunately, however, the reverse has proved the case. In all the various callings of life trade has been more than usually depressed, and our products have been materially reduced in price. The under-noted figures will, we think, explain the increase required to make up deficiencies on last year's rato :— Benevolent Institution—lncrease £1000 Other institutions — Increaie 364 Bank overdraft March 31,1895... 640 Increase over last year ... £2004 It will be seen, therefore, that the sum of £2001 over last yea/B estimates will bo required to meet oharltable aid maintenance, and the total amount will then be as follows :— Lost year's estimate ... .~ £13,826 Excess for this year »» ... 2,004 Total ... £15,830 This will involve an extra levy on local bodies of £1002 over laat year's claim. The Chairman suggested that the report should be taken as read, and moved its adoption. Mr Green eeconded the motion for adoption, which was carried. ESTIMATES. The Chairman said that the estimate of the Benevolent Institution Trustees for the current year was £10,500, which was £500 in excess of last year's estimate. He moved that the amonnb asked for be granted. Mr Green seconded the motion. Mr Hahdy said that in view of the very noble efforts that were being made in Dunedin for the unemployed, which would thus tend to alleviate a portion of. the distress, he did not think tho board should make any addition to the estimate of last year for the Benovolent Institution. He thought they should not look forward to a continual increase in this contribution year by year. It was well known th*t the finances of the various publio bodies wore not in & satisfactory state, and the sum demanded of them for charitable aid and hospital expenses was constantly increasing. So far as the City Council was concerned, that body was very eeriously hampered indeed in having to contribute so large a bum for this purpose. If the amount granted ta tho trustees were made the Bame as last year, that, together with the aid given by the citizans ia meeting the unemployed difficulty, should prove ample for their wants. He would move, as an amendment, that the sum granted be £10,000. Mr M'Gseuor seconded the amendment. Mr Clark asked how much of the amount asked for by the trustees would go to meet expenses already incurred. Tho Chaikman replied that the trustees overstepped the estimate of last year by £229. Me Hazlett quite approved of what Mr Hardy had said. It appeared that the Government was likely to make some change, and if it did he hoped the system introduced would be better than the present one. He was not going to say one word agtinst the administration iv the past, but he coped that the new system would bo more self-supporting, and have the effect of making those who received aid more self-reliant. He agreed with Mr Hardy that the board should not increase the grant to the trustees this year—especially in view ol the help given this winter to fcite unemployed. Mr Miller would support the me-tion as it stood. His reason for doing so would be manifest to the meeting when he explained it. Aa a trustee of another and separate institution, and as one who had had considerable experience in those thingß, he was gaHsfled that the gentlemen who composed the Benevolent Trustees would not Bpend one shilling more than they could help. He admitted that the system was a notoriously bad one, but in the amount aiked for by the trustees there was • £229 which represented an expense already incurred and which must be paid. That being bo, he did not see how the board could fail to grant tho £10,500 asked for, to meet which they would be bound to strike a rale. He quite agreed with those gentlemen who aaid they trusted the Government would briDg about; a better state of things, and they would see what it would do iv the way of making some other arrangements for outdoor relief. The method of distribution at present was very unsatisfactory; bat the money was wanted in the meantime, and would have to bo paid. The amendment was then put to the meeting and lost, Messrs Hardy, M'Grfgor, and Hazle'.t voting in its favour. The mation was then carried. The CnAiRMAN said that the estimate for the Female Refuge was £200, or the same ss last year, bub an additional £150 would be reqoired in connection with certain improvements that were being effected ou the buildings. The Governci.ent granted £700 for the work. A tender of somewhere about £700 was accepted, but the architect's feas and other necessary expente3 brought the amount up to £150 more which would have to be met. He moved—"That the estimate of £200 and the additional sum of £150 bo granted." Mr Hardy seconded the motion. He could testify to the very great care and diligence displayed by the ladies connected with the institution. The amount asked for was paesed. The Caversham Industrial School's estimate was £3310. The Chaihman said tb&t last year £3016 was the amount of the estimate, but they were paid £326*. Mr Miller: This Is an estimate we musb pass. Mr Hazlktt : The Government gives as no say in the institution. The Chairman i We can't put up a little bit of spouting without conferring with the powers in Wellington. Perforce they must know about the wants of the institution better than we down here do. Mr Green ; My only wonder is that tha Bo«d of Advice have not •' struck." The Chaibman : We are thinking about it. Mr Green continued to remark that from th« very initiation of the soheme he was of opinion that the board should have more power in connection with this matter. When after repeat««f

asking for & voice in Ihe erpftxdit uro of this money they were rold that they should hare ft boardof •advice, which it w»s bowed would prove satis- j i. aotory. He was rot a member of the Board of Advice, but fiom the reumks let fall by •previous ppewktrs he came to the conclusion that thesystem proved anything but satisfactory. He nincerely hoped that the now bill would at least leave them the power to tpai.age their own nffairy in accordance with their own judgment whatever that might be. The Chairman said that the Industrial School was one of thofe institutions to which be did not begrudge the money, for if it trained tip the children wkely and well to be good citizens it w»s money well *pent. ■ Mr Green: May I a?k if there is any classification at the school, or is it a fact that tilt poor and indigent children are mixed with -the criminals. The Chairman : There is no classification. It i» a big blot on the institution.— (Hear, hear.) Mr Robin then went on to Bay that the niMHtgc-r looked after the children in a manner that was a credit to him. He thought that the country was fortunate in having such a gentleman at the head of tbe institution. Mr Haedy hoped there were not very many children in the institution who were committed for crime. There were a good many in there \rho_ were taken away from very bad environments, and th6y were being well brought up as good members of s; ciety. Mr MiLLfcß observed that Mr Hardy overlooked the fact that not only we re children committed from Dunedin, but also from other places. A boy might be committed at Invercargill or Auckland. The Minister had tho rifcht of changing the children about wherever .lie liked. The estimate as applied for was paised. The "estimate for St. Mary's, Nelson, was £450 Last year the estimate wan £350, although' £39$ was paid. It was agreed to pass the estimate. Other 4-stiait.teß pissed were : — Auckland Industrial School, £55 (lafit year's estimate £95) ; Bnruhwn Industrial School, £50 (lasb ye&r's, £40).

Benevolent Institution £10,500 0 0 Female Refuge 200 0 0 Cavertliam Industrial School ... 3,310 0 0 St. Mary'g if n ... 450 0 0 Auckland n i» ... 55 0 0 Burnham n n ... 50 0 0 Board expenses ... ••• ..> 125 0 0 Total , „, „.£14,690 0 0

For last year the estimates were as follow :— Benevolent Institution £10,000 0 t Feniala Refaue .-. 200 0 Q Saverahatn Industrial School ... 8,016 0 0 3t. Mary's » » ... 350 0 0 Auckland n tt ... 95 0 0 Burnham n h ... 40 0 0 Board expenses ... ,♦* ... 125 0 0 £13,826 0 0