" Charitable " Aid.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5084, 18 October 1894, Page 2

" Charitable " Aid.

■« ♦ At the Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, yesterday, before Messrs D. Thomas and A. Harrison, J.P.V, Alice Scott, an aged woman and a widow, was charged with vagrancy. The police stated that until a short time ago the woman had, by means of rations supplied by the Charitable Aid Board and her labours in washing, succeeded in maintaining herself. A month ago her health gave way, and the police, finding her unoared for, sent her to the hospital, where she sufficiently recovered to be discharged, though helpless to earn a living. She was brought befota the Court on Oct. 9, and was f emanded for a week, spent in Lyttelton Gaol, to enable the police to communioate with the Charitable Aid Board, so that arrangement? for fcer maintenance might; be made. The Sergeant of Police reported that though he had immediately written to the Board he had not yet received an answer. The Bench spoke strongly regarding the neglect of the Board, and sent to it a telegram as follows:—"Alice Scott again remanded to gaol. Caee reported by police to you on Oct. 9. No reply. Delay oruel and inhuman. If you do nothing to-day will communicate with Government, and take steps to make the whole matter pnblic. Were it not for the gaol the woman would have been dead.— David Thomas, Alfred Harrison, Justices of the Peace."