CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 13

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A general meeting of the Charitable Aid Board was held in the Town Hall ou Thursday afternoon, aud attended by Messrs J. Robin (chairman), W. Suow, P. M'Gregor, A. Solomon, J. Hazlett, H. Clark, H. Gourley, P. Miller, H F. Hardy, J. R. Mitchell, and J. Given, M.H.R.

! The Chairman said : Mosb of. us thonghb that I ere this the new Local Government) Bill ! would have 'been passed into law, and that . others betides ourselvea would have boon entrusted with the duty of administering charitable aid ; but it looks ns if the passing of that meatuce wore still a good way off, and nob i yet within measurable distance. Thfro is j nothing, I think, that necessitates much com- i ment from art in the event* that h-we occurred daring thra past year, except that the wants of the B-nevolent Trustees are continually increasing year by year, and that nolwith- | standing the care we are led to believe the trustees exercise iv the distribution of the funds they have at theis disposal. In a recent visit to the country a very intelligent colonist waited on me, and, in pathetic and earnest terms, pointed this out, and eaded by saying th*t the prei«nt syctetu was only manufacturing paupers, and, would continue to do so until the system wu changed. — (Hesr, hear.) H» then ! quietly laid himself b.ick iv his chair with great ■ satisfaction, awaiting my answer. I Meaplyrepliad: "Well, with what system do you propose to replaoa the present vicious one?" But to that oruoUl question I have nob as yet received auy r«pJy. Gentlemen, that is the question we h*ve got to face, and the very fact ta*t no one has yet suggested something which meets with anything like general approval shows how careful we ought to bs in making any change. Could not the present law, with modifications in its working meet the ewe ? Could not the poor at certain seasons of the year ba set to work all along the line of railway and on our reserves ? There are tons of cocksfoot ?eed which now go fro warte, and we know that men in various parta of the country devote them- | selves to the gathering of this seed, and so make good wages, the ?e-d being rea<iily bought up by merchants. Now, this is an occupation very suitable for vomon and children, as well as men, and as much could ba earned during the season as would suffice for the wants of many for a considerable portion of the yaar, let ma respectfully suggest to the trustees that tbis matter should receive their coi siJeration, and be put to the test and into prscMce next season. Again," I think that a sufficient quantity of good, firstclass agricultural laud should ba sot aside ia connection with our industrial schools for the purpose of growing small fruit, vegetables, and other produce, the necessary labour to be found in the ranks of those who are now ia the receipt of | charity. This would nob only occupy their ' time, but give thorn & taste for honest labour, ' and help, if not altogether provide, means whereby tho oountry would be relieved of some i of its burdens, rendar the poor independent, and itabue a proper spirit/ 1 into their children.' One thing to my mind is certain : the oountry cannot and will not long continue to carry the burden it now bears. Many who now contribute i to the charitable aid rate are as poor as num- j berß who are the recipients of relief —(Hear.) ' And I am forced— almost against my ewn willto the conclusion that nothing will do but to return to the voluntary system for outdoor relief. I balieve where they have reverted to this system in the old country it has been found to produce the best results in spite of its drawbacks. Were the system agAin adopted in this colony I feel sure that many of those who are now living wholly or partially on charitable aid would be forced to exert themselves to earn a living for themselves and their children. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report, submitted by the executive, was received :— Gentlemen, — Your Executive Committee h»3 the honour to submit for your consideration the following statement of the accounts and transactions of the board for the anancial year , ended on March 31 last :— Statement op Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. To contributions of local authorities £7,458 8 7, Hew Zealand Government subsidy 0,822 9 8

Refund from Ho=piUl Board (amount banked in error) ... 65 4 3 Bank of Now iWland overdraft, March 31, 1886 1,185 13 7 £15,531 14 7 Expenditure. By bilance — overdraft at April 1, 1895 £ 6iO 15 9 Benevolent Institution ... .„ 10,781 8 8 Duusdin Female Refuse 192 16 11 Cavershxm Industrial School ... 3,20111 3j , St. Mary's (Nohon) 463 5 0 1 Burnhim (Canterbury) it ... 38 17 1 AuckUbd Industrial m ... 31 13 10 Sundries, expenses of management, interest on overdraft, As. 172 6 1 £15,531 14 7 The cause of the bank overdraft beifg so large is owing to tho fact that a Government subsidy of £797 18s lid, which was applied for on the 16th of Mirch, was not placed to the credit of the board's bank Recount until after the close of the financial year. The payments to tho Benevolent Institution have been £284 8? 81 over the estima'e, besides which tha board have had application from tho trustees for the sum of £218 8a 31, being the, amount of their overdraft on March 1, IB9fj. The amount paid to the trustees for the past year exceeds that of the pievious year by jfioSl '0s Cd, and were the above overdraft to be paid then the exo^s would be £772 18s 9d. In the case of the_ Cj.versham Industrial School the amount of requk'-monts for the year has been £114 lej« than tha c-tinwte. In Sc. Mary's the requirements have exceeded the estimate by £14, and in Auckland and £uvuh*m Schools the requirements luv>vbeen undor the estimate by £28 and £20 respectively. The following statement shows the assets and liabilities of the board as at date of balance :— Assets. Contributions outstanding £ 532 9 2 Goverumf-nt -viz : Subsidy applied for to Maveh 16 ... 7»7 18 11 it on contnbui ions collected 4")1 11 11 n on contributions outstanding 532 9 2 £2,291 9 2 Liabilities. Caversham Industrial School £ 784 9 11 St. Mary's .. n ... 118 5 0 Burnham h n . . 4 4 6 AuckUud ii ii ... 4 4 6 rUtoriu Sanatorium ... 8 8 0 Sundry accounts 11 8 9 Contributions overpaid 1 14 11 Bank overdraft 1,185 13 7 Excess of assets over liabilities ... 176 0 0 jC2,294 9 2 BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. We give bereunder the following statement in connection with the affaire ot this institution from information supplied by tho secretary :— Receipts. Balance April 1, 1833 £ 139 17 3 ] Charitable Aid Board 10,784 8 8 Other souices ... - ... ; 1,529 8 4 Balance March 31, 1896 210 12 4 £12,664 6 7 Expenditure. Outdoor relief £ 8,017 5 9 Maintenance and other expenditure 4,647 0 10 i £12,664 6 7 By comparing the above with last year's statement it will be seen that the amouut exp"iided in the w >.y of outdoor relief haa increased by £643 13s 7d. The number of inmate 3in the institution as at March 31, 1893, is 258, being one less than last year. The above statement does not include the amounts collected by a committee of tho citizens to meet the unempl .yed difficulty Ust winter. The amount collected by the Kelief Ojramifcreo, inclusive of the I'elichei Bay work«, was £M 77 4s 61, which was augmented by the Uovurunieat subsidy of £3631 63 6d— making in all ±6708 Us. With the excaptiou of sonvj £o0 or so balaucein ' hand, this amount was exp nded on the relief works. FEMALE REFUGE. Ia reference to the above institution your committee have to report as under :—: — Statement of Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. To Balanca April 1, 1895 ... ... £5 13 6 Charitable Aid Board 196 19 8 Laundry work 213 14 7 Sundry receipts ... ... ... 410 0 £420 17 9 Expenditure. By Salary of matron , ... £57 10 0 Salary of laundress... ... ... 30 0 0 City and water rates ... .., 7 19 0 Insurance 5 5 6 Gdneral maintenance, repairs, <fee. 318 8 0 Balance March 31, 1898 ... * ... 1 15 3 £420 17 9 The amount paid by the board is under the estimate by £7 3s Id, but exceeds the amount p*id for last year by £89 9s sd, mainly owing to the revenue for laundry work being less by about £9i. The cost of maintenance varies very little from that of last year, and includes extra charges in connection with the furnishing of tha new building. The following is the particulars in regard to the number of inmates, »s supplied by tk« matron ;—

Women. Children. Number of inmates Ist April 1595 15 * ,3 Admitted during the year ... 24 12 Total 39 15 Leß3 number discharged and ! left during the year 26 8 j Leaving in the institution on March 31, 1896 14 7 Of the women discharged during the year, it is | stated that 10 hava gone to situations, 7 have J gone home to their friends, while 8 have lapsed-: to old ways. Female Refuge Building Account. As you are aware the additions to the Female Refuge building have beßn completed. The BUbiiriy received from tha Government was £700, and after payment o£ all accounts there renyuns a debit balance of £JBSUb 3d; whioh will icqulre to be provided for in the estimates' of the curreot year. The following-gives the' particulars of the ] building expenditure:— } | Receipts. To New Zealand Government subsidy £700 0 0 Overdraft National Bank ,Ma'vch 31, 1896 ... .;,,-"... ' 189 1 3 £839 1 3 j Builder to March 31, W5 £ 84 0 0 Builder, balance 577 3 0 =- £6-31 3 0 Clerk of works to March 31, 1835 '600 Clerk of works, balance... 19 10 0 ■ 25 10 0 Plumber wovk 78 16 0 Architect ... 37 6 6 Furnishings... ... 20 3 11 Improvements and sun- ■ dries 56 3 4 Interest on overdraft to March 31, 1895 0 11 0 Interest on overdraft to March 31, 189b' 9 7 6 918 6 £889 1 3 INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. We have to report that the number of children chargeable ajaiEst the board in th<s various school, as per returns to March 31, 1336, are us under : - Caversbam Industrial School 189 St. Mary'B Industrial School 28 AuckUnd Industrial School ...' ... 1 Burnham Industrial School ... „. 1 219 Thia nuniber snows a reduction of three as compared with the number at March 31, 1895. Tho cost of maintaining the children varies from 4a b'd to 7s 6d per week, averaging 6s 7id per week, ESTIMATES. Your committee have to submit for the consideration of the board the following estimates, as received from the various institutions, for the current year":— *

es'imatea fur pre3eut year, £15,717. * Building account. A« will be aeen-^f rom the above statement, the estimates for this year excead those of last by about £1000, the increased estimate for the Benevolent Institution being the main factor in the excels. The Oaver.iharn, Buvnham, and Auckland Industrial Schools are under the estimates of the previous year, while there is an increase in the eatimate of St. Mary's School. J. Robin, Chairman. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION REQUISITION . A letter was read from the secretary of the Benevolent Institution, stating that the trustees eatimfctod tbeir total expenditure for, the year ending on the 31st March 1897 at £12,600, of which £1100 was expected from voluntary and other sources, lewing £11,500 to ba provided by the board 1 , or, including the existing overdraft, £11,718 8s 3d. In reply to Mr Miller, The Acting-secretary eaid the estimate was £1118 in excess of last year's, and the amount was £934 more than was actually paid last year. * Mr Snow moved that the same sum ns was granted last year be i votei— viz., £10,500. He thought th*t was quite enough. Mr Hardy seconded the' motion. Mr Gourley : How ara you going to provide for the overdraft ? Mr Miller : That is the trustees' trouble. Mr Gjreen said it was ona of the troubles which were forced upon the trus'ees because of the payments by the local bodies being made to the board at such short intervals as a month. He had' always held that the board had nothing at all to do with paying the instilments monthly, and therebj forcing on the separate institutions the incurring of overdrafts, and the separata institutions had no means of. getting money save by sending requisitions to the board for the money they wanted. At the same time, he intended to support the motion. He gave credit to his colleagues on the Benevolent Trust for exercising all owe and caution, but, while tha present system obtained, the board required to hold the reins as tightly as possible to prevent the expenditure growing. So long as the board sanctioned every requisition, whatever its amount, men with hearts in their bodies could nob reduce the expeuditure. The system w&b wretchedly b&d. The applicants mads out very strong oases, but he had no doubt it was absolutely true that there wore people receiving relief into whose households' much larger sums went every week than into the homes, in double or treble the time, of some of those who contributed towards the charitable aid.

Mr Solomon thought that a very easy reply was forthcoming to the question put by Mr Robin to tha old colonist. The question was, What oould be dona to lessen the expenditure on cliwitablo wd ?

Mr Grbss : Stop the outdoor relief.* Mr Solomon: Prooisely. He (the spanker) had been engaged in the administration of that act since it came into force, and his experience had led him to believe that Dothing csnld bo done in the direction of lessening the expense till the system of giving outdoor relief from State and local funds w«s absolutely ended. Peop'e had now come to regard charitable aid 88 a right, and the position of the Benevolent Trustees was thereby vary much weakened. .As to the requisition of the trustees, it was vary e*sy to ivdu;e the vote to £10,500, but the baard should go further and ask the trustees to keep within the limit of that sura.

Mr Miller thought the time bad arrived trhon tlie board should hand over the trustees a monthly cheque, representing the euai due on their requisition. If the trustees oould not manage with the amount allowed, then the ttoablft rested with them, and it wag their busines.i to finance themselves. Mr Hazlsct thought that if they allowed an extr* £1000 to the trustees it was simply encouraging olh*r bodies to increase th&ir re* quisitions. Mr Grben said that, including the amount raised for re!i-f works, the trustees last yea* had spect £21,000. He wished to mention that, to give eoruo idea of the large amount ftpent in charitable aid. i>

Mr Gourmw said that the mover and seconder of the m >tion for the reduction of tha rpquistion knw nothing about tha wants tho hojrd of trustees had to meet. The trustees hnd a fuU knowl«dgo of every casa that cams bfcfoi'o them, and knew what amouut tiny ro< quired. If ever there was a farce in the worl4 that board was' one.— (Laughter ) They hud all the paraphernalia of a big business, and nothing to do. He mov<sd, as an amendment^ that the amount asked for be granted. The amendment was not seconded. The Chairman had a great deal of sympathy with the trnoteea of the Benevolent Inititution, who had a difficult task to perform, and whose trouble continued all the year rouad ; but if the trustees would take his advice they would consider whether or not they should not at theii first mooting give three months' notice of thoii intention to stop all outdoor relief. Th« whole trend of public opinion was ia th« dire C ion of the abolition of outdoor relief. So -long as outdoor relief was given *o long would people' with small minds and no independence go and rectivo their doles, till after a while they thought they had as much right to thetu as the mtn who worked and strovs in vtiud and rain and in all torts ol weather in the open air.

The motion was then put and carriad, Mr Gourley dieseuling. ■ ' . OTHER REQUISITIONS. The following requisition* were passed {—• Female Refuge, £200 ; Cav«r«hnm fnduttrial School, £3310 ; St-. Mary's Industrial School, £450; Buruh&ra Industrial School, £50 ; Auckland Industrial School, £50, THE SECRETARYSHIP. The question of the appointment of a secretary was then cousidtrcd. ' Mr Grbbn said that if the board determined that it was not going to hive an executive meatiag monthly, with an officer in attendance, the question of the secretaryship bea*mß a trifling matter, for when the board had dealt with its business that day there was nothing more to transact for a. year.

The Chairman remarked that it hai been decided at la-st meeting to appoint a secretary at a salary of £125r including office accommodation.

Mr Grtcen said the response which tho board had received to its adverf/itemanb showed clearly that the action taken by the committed in resolving to pay a certain salary was precipitate, for applications had been received from persons who were willing to discharge the duties at a considerable reduction upon fch/J salary offered ; and it became & question whether the board would adhere to the salary recommended by the committee or get the work dote, and efficiently dono, by own of repute at the rate for which the latter offorcd to do it. He moved — "That any pernon who may be selected shall only bo appointed on the condition that ha shall accept a salary ef £100 per annum."

Mr Gouelky seconded the motion, whioh wa» carried unanimously.

The members then proceeded to propose candidates for tho pisition, and Meefts C. H. Sfcatlwra, D Htrria Hastings, T. S. Graham, H. Baron, P. B*cr, J. Ranfcin, and J. Q. Falteraou wore nominated. A ballot, being taken, resulted in the votes of the majority being cast in favour of Mr T. S. Graham, who was consequently elected. It was agreed that Mr J. 6. Patterson, who had been acting as secretary »ince the resignation of the late secretary, should rccolvo three months' salary at the rate at whioh the former secretary had been paid. STRIKING IHJB RiTB. On the motion of the Chairman, the rate was struck to cover the estimates. At this stage attention wai drawn by Mr Solomon to tho fact th%t there was no qaoran present, and the proceedings terminated.

Institution, j IKstimate This Year.! i£itimate Last Year. Hematics. ' Benevolent Institution £11,500 £10,500 £1000 in ex'ce3S of praviouß estimate, and with claim for overdraft previously referred to, thsn £1,216 over. Female Be fuge 200 200 Satimate for ma nteiiance. Same as before. Ditto 160* Daversham Industrial {School ... 3,201 3,310 £103 under previous estimate. sfc Mary's do, £450 to £500, say 475 480 Say £25 in excess of last year's estimate. £15underprevioua estimate. £38 under previous estimate. Bumliam do 35 co ■ ) Auckland do £16 18s 55 Female Hefuga building account balance ... Board expenfce3 189 • 100 125 is per minutes, 0, 1895). Total ... £15,71710, ______ j £14,510U I Junf2(