The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1888. CHARITABLE AID.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2008, 8 December 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1888. CHARITABLE AID.

It is abundantly clear that the existing legislation with respect to Hospitals ' and Charitable Aid is m need of extensive amendment, evidence of dissatisfaction with the existing state of things coming from all parts of the colony. There are country districts which have their own hospitals, and are yet made to contribute towards the maintenance of hospitals m towns with which they are compulsorily united, and there are towns which are called upon to pay a share of the cost of maintaining hospitals m country d'stricts. which are of no possible benefit to the town residents. Then again the question of " settlement," involving the determination as to which district is properly chargeable with the cost of charitable aid m the case of change of residence on the part of the recipient, needs more precise definition, and it is also well worth considering whether it should not be provided that instead of an even rate over the whole district the rate should not be apportioned m relation to local conditions. Moreover the present system which throws the entire burden upon one description of property — real estate — only is obviously inequitable, for wealth m shares and the concrete form of money should certainly also bear its share of the burden. Another point which has been raised m Invercargiil carries its justification on the very face of ir ; viz. the contention that before the com mittal to Industrial Schools of children who thereupon become chargeable to the local Charitable Aid Board the Board should be m some way consulted as to the distination of euch children. A like consultative power should also be given to the Board which is to become chargeable m respect of persons relieved by other boards as to the extent of any relief other than such as is necessary to save or sustain life. The fact is, indeed, that our Hospital and Charitable Aid Acts want a thorough overhaul, if not an entire remodelling, and the matter is one which ought to at once engage the attention of the Government wiih | a view to the necessary legislation next session. But while this should and must be done it is also to be hoped that the sensible advice of the Auckland Board viz., that the necessity for charitable aid should be done away with as much as possible by the extension of the system of village settlements by which so much has been already achieved m this district, and it is to be hoped that the visit which the Minister for Lands is now making to those m the Auckland provincial district will have the effect of removing from his mind the narrow views and prejudices with regard to this matter which have bitberto formed the worst feature of bis administration.