CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5163, 23 January 1895, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

;■ •■ — ♦> . ■ ■ The ordinary meeting of the Ashbnrton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board was held this afternoon; presentMr E. Weßtenra (chairman), and Messrs H. H. Parish, J. T. Smith, J. Hamilton, E. . Mulcock, and A. Chalmers. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs H. W. Peryman and W. Acton Adams. ° ; .■ chairman's statement. The Chairman's statement was as follows :— Owing to there being no election of members to represent the Ashburton County and Borough, the appointment of two representatives rests with the Government; but up to the present' I have received no intimation of such appointments being made. I should mention that in the case of one aged recipient, lately deceased, who had been assisted by the Board for many: years past, it was found that she had upwards of .£IOO in gold coin in her poEseasion. This money was at once placed in the hands of the Public Trustee. Amongst the various classes of applicants for relief are numerous persons of both sexes, but I wißh here more particularly to' refer to women— o! well-known character, miny of them aged and past work, others obtaining : but a precarious livelihood' and often by improper means—who have to be assisted either by private benevolence (which cannot be expected to last indefinitely,' especially > when all the. facts become known), or by State aid. The Board, having at present no institution for housing women of this class, and having ho power as the law stands to 'require them to remain within an institution if there were one, is obliged to meet caßes of this kind in a manner unsatisfactory to all> concerned by relieving where necessary in rent, fire and fuel, although it is undeniable that such relief does not, add cannot, under existing circnmstanoeß, afford more than a partial solution of the difficulty; On rail sides the out-relief system extended td . persons known to: be undeserving, but who nevertheless must .' hot be allowed to .starve, and should not be suffered to prey on society j by begging, stealing or continuing other immoral practices in order to procure the barest means of subsistence, is open to the strongest objection ; and I need not quote accepted opinions of many recognised authorities on this head. r The Board would be justly blamed if it contributed direct to such persons, an allowance, sufficient to maintain them; aid the Board is often blamed because it endeavours to protect the public funds in its refifaal tp grant more than is absolutely necessary for sustenance of life. I have referred to this phase of the Boaid'a work oil previous occasions, and I am the more impelled to lay stress upon it now, because, the -.Board has recently been reconstituted by the process of annual election, and because there appears ,tb be some prospect of the whole qaestio'n of poor-relief being dealt with in the approaching Beffßion 'of Parliament. And I hope 'this feature of the subject will be resolutely and vigorously handled. I was glad to observe that the Chairman of the .Wellihgton Benevolent ' : Institution, expressed an opinion very firmly the other day as to the need of improved legislation.' A few years ago a measure was introduced .into Parliamentary debate, but did not pasi into law, in the dir'eotion of establishkroner institutions '- for housing and detaining idle and" vioioua characters, in ; order to prevent and suppress, as far as possible, the evils to which I am now alluding ; and I think the principle a reouiid one. Bub any "patchwork" attempt to improve the present condition of such persons, by housing and feeding and suffering them to go in and ' out at pleasure' and pretend to' be partly selfsupporting, whilst : at the game time they can indulge r their vicious propensities or incur , the risk of total relapse, will be worse than jueelesa. It has already been tried even here in Christchurch, and would fail again. .The only effectual remedy will be removal from the opportunities of temptation,' and wholesome discipline eitended over a reaaonable, period of time, before they, can, be trusted to renew the stru^le for an independent existence. At 3 the present time auduntil the law enables the Board to exercise authority, in the way I haye.iiwicated, it' is with many unfortunate persona a question of either getting relief, which ilotfie of them will abuse, or being arrßsfced' and Committed ■to the common gaol, which is hot, in my opinion, the .place for dealing with their peculiar oases. .■ ■ i ■■' .' ; • ; '. r.. ■ . .: .. : ''.'■■.: INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE. ' The Institutions Committee reported as under:— A deputation attended the laßb meeting to consult the committee as to a means of making provision for dealing with cases of childbirth where the mojbhera are ineligible for admission, to the female refuge. Your committee fully realises that this question is surrounded with serious difficulties, and requires most careful consideration before . the Board should be asked to countenance any proposal in the direction of appearing to encourage cases of the nature referred to. The committee, therefore, suggests that the Finance Committee should be requested to consider the matter when framing the estimates for the. ensuing year. The lessees of the Kef age have asked whether the Board can Bee its way to remit the annual charges on the institution for drainage and fire insurance. Yotir committee is not prepared with any recommendation at present, but would propose that this also be referred to the Finance Committee. The medical report on the Lyttelton Orphanage for the past quarter is satisfactory. The committee has to acknowledge the kindneßsof Messrs Hayward and Delamain in supplying vehicles free of charge for the use of the aged inmates of the Memorial Home on the occasion of ; their annual excursion, and of other friends, who supplied luncheon, &c. The report was adopted. BELIEF STATISTICS. The, Secretary reported as follows : —The relief register for December showß a total number of 4,54, cases, comprising 1430 per- ■ bohb relieved, as against 431 ca6es for the i corresponding month of the previous year. | There is nothing of note to record in respect of indoor relief at the several institutions. ■ ■ The report was adopted. FINANCE. > . The treasurer reported the following j receipts since the hwt meeting of the Board:— Oust Eoad Board £7 19b 3d, Kowai Eoad Board £21 16a 6d, Christchurch City Council £69 19s, Linwood Borough Council £18 18s 4d, Ashburton Borough Council £6 8a lOd, St Albans Borough Council £11 10s 2d, Selwyn County Council £145 4s 6d, Ashburton County Council £78 14s lOd, Amun County Council £16 Is 2d, Akaroa County Council j825 2a 3d, Sydenham Borough Council £14 163 4d, Mandeville andßangioraKoad Board £38 17s Bd, other sources £25 15s. The Ashley Eoad Board had promised its contribution on Feb. 7. The meeting then terminated.