CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 9

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Charitable Aid -ioard was held on Thursday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs Chisholm (in the Uhair), Baxter, Begg, Wilson, Hnynes, Miller, and Samson. The Benevolent Institution trustees' requisition for £800, and that of the Female Refuge for £25, were passed for payment. A BEFOBMATOnr WANTED. The Inspector of Hospitals, Wellington, wrote forwarding a copy of a communication received from the Dunedin branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which was as follows : — Water street, Dunedin, July 5, 1898. Eight Hon. R. J. Seddon, LL.D., "Wellington. Dear 'Sir, — I am instructed to forward you a copy of the following resolution, which was nnanimously carried at a meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union held last Tuesday, the 28th ult., and to ask you to kindly give the matter your early attention: — " That in the opinion of this meeting there is ■urgent need of a*reformatory 7 and they respectfully urge you to take steps to have the matter brought before the House as speedily as possible. Such reformatory to be subsidised by Government, but to be under the control of a committee appointed by the people themselves." In urging upon you the great importance of this question we would respectfully point out that our daily papers constantly contain reports of cases of child-murder, illegal operations, and -last, but most important of all, that the question of providing for the poor little children ;brought into the world to be provided for by the State is becoming a most serious one. That .the women so often brought up before the magistrates are becoming lost to all sense of shame is evidenced by the fact of their appearing so often — one ]U3t lately for the sixth time, and when remonstrated with she simply laughed in the face of the presiding magistrate. Had we some place where these women could be confined and made to work to support themselves, and compelled to remain there from two to seven years, we are strongly ot opinion the evil might be much lessened, and the unfortunate creatures themselves perhaps saved from a career that can only end in wide-spread disease and death. Apart from anything else, the ■enormous cost to the country is a matter that must be dealt with sooner or later, and we, therefore, respectfully suggest this as one way of lessening the expense. — I am, sir, yours most obediently, Edith M. Statham, Hon. Sec. W.C.T.U., Dunedin Branch. Mr Haynes said this opened up a very important question. In the first place there would have to be a legislative enactment passed, and there was not time for that this session ; and, secondly, the establishment of a reformatory. The present institutions had not the power to detain anyone, and before that power could be got it would be necessary to legislate in the matter. As a Benevolent Institution trustee, he might say that they had ofton felt that they should have more power with such persons as were referred to in the communication ; but tinder the existing state of -things - they had no power to deal with them. While he had, to a certain extent, sympathy, with the. opinions expressed in the letter, he was of opinion that there was no time to draft a bill to go before the House. Mr Begg understood that the communication ■was forwarded by Government with a view of getting an opinion from the board. The Chairman : That is so. •Mr Begg : Very well ; I don't think there is any difficulty in the way of the board expressing an opinion. The Chairman said what was suggested was a separate institution altogether from any in existence. The communication did not coniend that additional powers should be given to the Benevolent Institution trustees; but suggested a new institution altogether, and additional powers in connection with that. The point for the board was to express an opinion as to whether cases were not sufficiently met by existing institutions, and, if ■not, whether they would recommend a course like the one suggested in the letter. Mr Wikon. thought that it would be a very wise thing if the board helped a matter of this Irind forward. He did not know what steps were necessary ; but he thought it was a very ■desirable and laudable object. The Chairman asked if the Female Refuge would not be able to cope with the difficulty, if there was the additional power referred to by Mr Haynes granted. Mr Miller: No, sir. • The Chairman repeated his question. Mr Begg : It is a purely voluntary affair. The Chairman appeared to think that the TTemale Refuge would be able to undertake the work, if it was invested with the necessary powers. Mr Haynes, referring to the question of a separate institution, said they had quite «nough already. All that was required was the additional power. Mr Miller said the matter had occupied the minds of a good many persons, not only this particular matter, but that of a home for inebriates. It was a big question, and one that the board should not, at the present time, give an opinion upon. It opened up a very large question, and he was not sure that it should not be dealt with by Government, outside the board. He agreed with Mr Haynes that they were fairly well provided with public institutions, if increased powers were given. As far as the question of detaining persons, at the present juncture, was concerned, if they got their backs up, and said they were not going to stop, they could walk out without hindrance. He would move that the matter be referred to a committee consisting of the chairman, Messrs Begg and Haynes — (a member: "And the mover"), — and the mover, to take into consideration the requirements of the case, and report to next meeting of the board; the circulars calling the meeting to notify that the question would be dealt with at the meeting. - This would allow rr embers to look into the matter a little more closely. The Chairman : Could additional powers be asked for this session? Mr Miller : No, sir ; there is not time. The motion was carried, and a suggestion by Mr Miller that the secretary ask for copies of the Local Bodies Bill, in which he (Mr Miller) believed there were a great many altera-" tions _ and something concerning the matter in •question, was agreed to.