AGED WELFARE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE HOME COSTS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 9

AGED WELFARE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE HOME COSTS

Langford House, established, by the Christchurch Aged People’s Welfare Council, cost £6OO to run in the first six months after it was opened—the bill for the first full year is likely to be about £lOOO. After being told this last evening, and discussing for 90 minutes a recommendation from the executive on the payment of board in homes, the council called for a report on the running costs of Langford House and all homes managed by the constituent members of the council. This is likely to be the council’s first move towards asking the Government to meet the full cost of running Langford House—the first home opened by such a body in New Zealand. Recommendation The executive’s recommendation read: “That it be resolved that we adopt a standard that, after payment of board, residents be left with a minimum of 26s a week spending money. “Those who are able should be expected to pay up to the full cost of their board, priority of admission, however, being based on physical need rather than financial considerations.” “We have undertaken the establishment of this home on an agreement that we will not go to the Government for financial help,” said the chairman of the executive (Dr. H. R. Donald). “But we have signed that agreement witn the full knowledge that in time the Government will be required to pay. “The Government is paying large sums in subsidies to many other homes, but that money is wasted if the homes do not admit those whose need is greatest.” There was some fear, he said, that there might be a tendency on the part of admission committee’s to admit only, or largely, those who could pay. “In the next few years all these homes are likely to be dependent upon charity.” "Boarding Houses” There were organisations which catered for those who could pay. said Miss Mabel Howard, M.P., and if the recommendation was

adopted the homes would simply become boarding houses. "In tl e final analysis the Government will have to meet any deficit on these homes —it was their idea, they started it. And it was a good idea. "But the adoption of the recommendation would quickly lead to discrimination between those who paid the full amount and those who did not,” she said. "Finance is the last thing that comes into the minds of those who have to decide who shall be admitted to homes,” said the Rev. T. G. Campbell (Presbyterian Social Service Association). After the first six months, said Mr W. H. Larcombe (Pensioners’ Welfare Association), Langford House was "£6OO down the drain.” However, it might not be as much in the second six months.

Mr Larcombe, who is convener of the Langford House committee, said he felt sure that no-one would be admitted to that home solely because he had the means. Mr Campbell then moved, as an amendment, that “this council instruct the executive to go into the whole matter of the running costs of the various homes of the constituent bodies of this council and bring forward some recommendations on general financial assistance.”

This amendment was adopted.