BENEVOLENT AID.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 493, 28 April 1909, Page 3

BENEVOLENT AID.

OHIRO HOME AND OUTDOOR RELIEF. ITS COST FOR THE YEAR. , ; - The- trustees of the Benevolent Institution, met yesterday, when there were present: Mr. J. Smith (in* the chair), Miss M. Richmond, the Rev. W. A. Evans, Messrs. D.. Robertson, R. W. Short, and H. Cook. Miss Knox, who is interested in charitable work in London,; accompanied by Mr. R. C. Eirk, of the Hospital Board and Trustees, attended tho mooting in order to see the method of administering charitable aid in Wellington. The secretary (Mr. A. H. Truebridge) presorted a lengthy return showing details of recoipta and expenditure in connection with the work of, tho trustees. Permanent improvements made in tho Ohiro Homo last year were valued at £597 45.. 6d. The available balance from the year was £1170 14s. Tho cost of outdoor relief amounted to £1653, an increase of £93 on the previous year. Tho cost of the Homo had increased by £221 123. lOd.' on the previous,year (or deducting £65 for the extra number of inmates) by £156 12s. lOd.. This increase was accounted for by the rise in tho. prices of the various commodities, *such as bread, moat, and milk, and the extra cost of firo, lighting, and maintenance rendered necessary by tho provision of an extra infirmary ward. Tables of cost for the Home showed' that the amount expended on food was £1028 odd, incidental expenses, such as washing, etc., £158:' fuel and light,, £173;- tobacco.- snuff, and matches, £123; boot-sand clothing, £156; maintenance and repairs, £127; stores, tools, etc., £74; rates and insurance, £105; salaries, £453; pocketmoney for inmates, £231. The cost of the Home per week was £50 125., or 9s. 9d. per inmate, tho annual cost of each inmate being £25 lls. 4d. The total recoveries (including such items'as old-age pensions) amounted to £728 4s. 7d., : sp that tho net cost of tho Home was £1903'5s'Y 6d. The food ■ allowance to each inmatoj.at tho Home per diem was:— Bread, 11 \oif; meat, Sioz.f.lnrtter, 24-250z.; cheese, 2}«z. ; -"(per: week); flour, 550z- (per woek); oatmeal,' 1 3-50z.; potatoes, 6 2-50z.; tea, 22-105oz.ysugar, ljoz. ;milki-12-25 pint. On the question of' charges for'maintenance, the roaster 'drew- attention' to 'tho {act ti> a t an .effective estimate : of the cost of the Home should include 5 : per cen. interest on the £11,500 capital-rank in the institution. This.would bring the average cost per. inmate up to lls. 10d. per week instead of 9s. 9d. as at.present, v , . ■ Tho amount'expended on rations for outdoor relief'was;£B62 18s. 7d.- This accounted for 53,573 daily, 'and 8367 weekly rations, tho average value of tho weekly ration being 25.. OJd. To this was added £619 145. ; 6d. grants in aid of rent and cost of coal, clothing,.medical attendance, etc., bringing the total-cost of outdoor relief up to £1658'35. sd. The grants in aid of rent 'were £47 os. Bd. less than in the previous year. The standard ration,- consisting of bread, meat, tea, sugar, and potatoes, cost 2s. 3d., but tho ration actually taken by most recipients of aid included "such other items as rice,, flour.' soap, candles, -etc;, .costing • 2s. OJd. In the report the, secretary said that ho thought it was worth considering whether an extended ration would not bo an econpmy and advan-. tage, as it would often dispose of the request for rent made on the ground that what'little money wa3 coming in was required for extras of food not supplied with tho ration. '.' In' conclusion, the secretary remarked .that experience had ; proved that .the giving of smairdoles was not the best method of keeping down the cost of charitable aid. 'For one thins,, tho -smalln'ess of- the amount granted : was liable to give rise-'to laxity in administration ■• sinco •■■ the ■ individual, grants were, s , trifling. '-.. - ;, ";'•":;':''.. ■•'".'■