CHARITABLE AID RECIPIENTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8943, 18 December 1907, Page 5

CHARITABLE AID RECIPIENTS.

A PROPOSED SEARCHLIGHT

THE MODUS OPERANDI DIS-

CUSSED

At yesterday's meetiug of the Wellington Benevolent Trustees a circular was read from Dr Valiutine, Inspec-lor-Geueral of Charitable lustitutious, iv which lie stated that the Department purposed to issue a quarterly list of persons iv the Dominion in receipt of charitable aid whether outdoor or institutional. He submitted that by such means it might be possible to minimise some of the abuses of the preseut system, aud keep the various boards informed as to the location aud movements of the indigent. With this object he forwarded a set of cards to be filled iv and returned wheu relief to applicants was granted. Ou receipt of the particulars ho proposed to issue a quarterly circular, which the Board could correct, so that the names of the recipients, who have gouo off the rates or have died, may be taken off the list. The cards bear a number aud have spaces for such particulars as the patient's name, age, nationality, religion, occupation, how long in the Dominion, how long receiving relief, amount allowed per week for rent, ratious, or cash, to what poverty is attributed, if an Old-age Pensioner, nature of incurable or chronic complaiut (if any), whether married, if wife alive, if living together, if husband alive, number, names and ages of children, what are they earning, have any relatious been iv receipt of charitable relief, is there any relative in a position to help, etc.

Mr Hogg said there was no necessity for the publication proposed. Neither charitable aid uor pauperism had reached a magnitude in the Doin iv ion that would warrant the methods proposed. How ofteu did tho victims of misfortune, uuder tho strain of dire necessity, shrink from the strong arm of public benevolence sooner than run the risk of publicity? That uuderserviug applicants sometimes obtained relief was undeniable, but these cases were rare. The bulk of the people that obtained assistance were widows, or the families of distress, stricken with sickness, aud the relief they claimed was ouly temporary. The publication of the particulars asked for by the luspectorGeueral could ouly be justified ou the ground that gross imposition aud fraud were prevalent. This he did uot believe. It was a libel on the poor to say that mauy of them were undeserving. The Chairman: The list is not intended for general circulation. It will be confidential. Mr Hogg said it was notorious that these confidential lists quickly found tho light of day. They constituted tho fuel ou which scandal subsisted. The duty of tho Trustees was to treat poverty as a disease, and put the sufferers beyond its reach. In this instance thoy were asked to regard it as a crime, aud publish a list of offenders aud their offences iv the same way as was done in the Police Gazette. There was no need to take away from people that suffered from want the little self-respect and independence that still adhered to them. Mr Boltou said lie would readily fall in with the Inspector-General's proposals if there was any necessity for such a scheme, but he thought it would be wise to seek the welfare of the poor by helpiug them in a reasonable way, rather than by inquisitorial processes. The Chairman and Mr Smith did uot think there would be any objection to the compilation of a list such as Dr Valintine proposed. It would be confideutial.

Mr Hogg: Just so. And the unfortunate children that grow up to manhood and womanhood will have it- flashediu their faces!

Mr Boltou did not think any good would arise form this list. It would involve clerical work and simply add to the expense of the present system. The Chairman moved "That Dr Valintiue's application for technical information be granted."

Mrs Darvall seconded

Mr Hogg moved and Mr Bolton seconded an amendment: "That in the opinion of the Trustees the steps proposed to be taken by Dr Valentine are unnecessary." A division being taken the motion was supported by the Chairman, Mrs Darvall and Mr Smith, and the amendment by Messrs Hogg, Bolton and Cork.

The motion was carried by the Chairman's casting vote.