INDIGENT CHILDREN

Southland Times, Issue 19258, 23 June 1921, Page 5

INDIGENT CHILDREN

HOSPITAL BOARD’S OBLIGATIONS. Until April 1 all indigent children committed to an industrial school were made a charge upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board of the district where they were committed and the local Board laid it down as a policy that, rather than pay another department for these children, it would maintain them in its own home at Lome Farm. The amending Act of last session, however, raised the question as to whether the Board was liable for the maintenance of the children at Lome Farm and representations were accordingly made to the Department of Health in order to ascertain the Board’s position. The Director-General of Health has replied to the Board as follows:—“With reference to your memorandum in reference to the children who are maintained at the Children’s Home at Lome Farm, I have to state that while this department has no legal obligation except in cases where children ere actually committed to an industrial school, yet it is possible that in this particular case steps will be taken to place out under the supervision of this Department’s officers, the children at present in this Home. In all probability arrangements will be made for the officer-in-charge of the Special Schools branch to visit Invercargill in the near future for the purpose of conferring with the Hospital Board on the matter.”