Charitable Aid Board

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7137, 20 November 1894, Page 3

Charitable Aid Board

The monthly meeting of the Board was held this morning. Present : Messrs Townley (chairman), Tiffen, Dunlop, Harris, Tuohey, Irvine, Gray, and Harding. — Mrs Armour wrote stating that Mr Budge had broken through the wire fences.— The Chairman said that Budge was one of those who had complained about the food. He was in the habit of going out of the Home and getting through the fences in order to get on to th< road. He had been spoken to by the cus todian, but defied her. — Mr Tuohey said i Budge had strength to break down fences he could do some work. — The Chairmai. said Budge would do nothing whatever. — Mi Harris intimated the Visiting Committee had a report to bring up, when this matter would bo referred to. — A letter was read from the Gisborne Women's Political Union oh the subject of the Old Men's Home. [This letter has already been published in the Herald.]— The Chairman urged that the present system had been adopted as an experiment. He thought that it was not the object of the Board to encourage pauperism. If the Board made comfortable houses for the poor, they would soon have plenty of persons to look after. The proposal to purchase land and establish a good Home had been discussed long ago, but there was no money to carry out the proposal,— Mr Harris said that it was easy enough to find fault, but not so easy to provide remedies. There was now a bathroom at the Home, and improvements had been made. He quite agreed with Mr Sievwright as to the advisability of having a piece of land and providing buildings. But where was the money to come from ? He considered the present system was quite good enough. He would move that the letter be received. — Mr Tiffen thought the ladies might be able to raise the money by subscription. — Mr Dunlop said the ladies should be asked how much they would give themselves ?— Mr Tuohy remarked that would stop their complaining. The old men seemed content with their lot with the exception of two. —The Chairman : And those two, old soldiers, would not be satisfied with anything.— Mr Gray said the only weak point in the system was that of paying so much a week to the custodian for the old men's keep. — The Chairman remarked that the Women's Union complained of everything. There was nothing right. — Mr Harris said the only other way would be to provide the rations for the old mcD, and pay someone to cook for them. This would not be any more economical — in fact he thought it would cost more. — The letter was received.— The Visiting Committee reported they had visited the Old Men's Home, and found a great improvement since their last visit. They considered that Budge and Brown required to be watched, as they were continually breaking the rules. It was difficult to know what could be done with them. If they were expelled they would only fall into the hands of the police. The report was favorable. — Mr Dunlop considered that unless the inmates of the Home observed the rules they should be expelled. — Messrs Dunlop and Tiffen were appointed a Visiting Committee for the ensuing month.' — The Treasurer reported receipts during the month £395, against which there was a Dr. balance of £52 7s 2d due to the Bank and accounts £148 os 2d — leaving a balance of £194 7s Bd.— Accounts presented for payment amounted to £142 14s Id (including £80 hospital requisition), leaving a credit balance to be carried forward of £51 13s 7d. — Mr Harris said the question troubling him was that of outdoor relief. He would like to know what steps were taken to ascertain whether applicants for relief were entitled to assistance. Perhaps the members would think the matter out between this and next meeting. If not he wouid suggest the appointment of a sub-committee to consider the matter. — The Chairman said cases of need were reported to him by the Secretary, and inquiries made in order to see that the Board was not imposed upon. — Mr Harris thought it would be worth while considering the question of appointing a relieving officer whose duty it would bo to go round and see for himself whether those in receipt of relief were entitled to it. In the future the Board would find outdoor relief a costly business, and efforts should be made to conduct it as economically as possible.— The Board then ros3.