CHARITABLE AID

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3058, 20 April 1917, Page 8

CHARITABLE AID

SOME REDUCTIONS In-these-times of daily increases in the cost of everything and piling expenditure, it is' cheering to learn that a .reduction can be effected in,any institution, particularly a charitable one, yet such was the case in regard'to the Charitable Aid finance in connection with the Hospital and Charitt&le Aid Board. The annual report of the Char■itablo Aid Committee, read by its chairman (Mr.' Duncan" Campbell) at i yesterday's'meeting, of tho board gave some interesting information on. this phase of charitable expenditure. The report road as follows:— ' "'■ . _. "Tho total expenditure on charitable aid account, including £544 capital outlay for the now isolation ward at Ohiro Hoino, has been £13.695, as against £13,946 for the preceding: year, or less by £251/ . Notwithstanding,' . therefore, that the estimates of last year provided what then appeared to bo very narrow margins, the expenditure has fallen below them by a. considerable amount, the figures being: Estimated expenditure, £14,905; actual, £13,695; expenditure below estimate by £1210. . "Ordinary outdoor relief is,' in the aggregate, £620 lower than last year; £230 of this has been contributed by tho city-proper; £280 by the Potone and Hutt district; £40 by the Horowhenua. district, and £70 by the Hutt County district, in. which there has been no call whatever during the year. Tho daily average number of persons in receipt of outdoor relief dropped from 269 to 199, or less by 26 per. cent., tho principal decreases being 29 in the city and 35 in the Petone and ,Hutt districts. -This, decrease is due,, doubtloss, to various circumstances.' Among others,-probably, the increaso of money in circulation; the allowances to wives and children of soldiers; the demand for labour caused bv tho withdrawal of men for the Expeditionary Forces;_ to which may be added increased _ activity, on the part of our own administration in taking advantage of tho means provided by law for the" enforcement of individual responsibility. . ; • "There,has been an increase in tho number of! destitute children directly provided--.for (principally bv means of private ; institutions), which' accounts for a somewhat larger expenditure tinder this head. (£45).•■-. "Expenditure on outdoor medical relief is sorno £45 lower than last year, -fewer claims for attention to'indigent persons having come in. ._ .-.._' "Tho expenditure on indoor relief f through the Ohiro Benevolent Homo) is less than.that of last year by £240. Here, again, the calls upon tho board have decreased, thi.daily average number oF persons in the home having dropped from 131 to 120. It is demonstrable that, this (Incrpaso in numb.prs is attrihutnblo tn .the lowering of the standard demanded by. employers, owing to the shortage of Kbonr. The variations from the preceding year in' tho particular items of expenditure will be found generally- to respond to the reduction in numbers'. . Tn one or two rases of notablv meat, and butter', increased prices have counternoted the diminution-in .consumption, hut the disturbance from this cause has not boon great. Exnewlitnre on salaries has been less by £125, through reductions in staff, as a war economy, wherever possible. It, ought to bo particularly noted that this has only been possible through the co-oopration and goodwill of the inmates of tho institution. "Statutory Charges.—lndigent children in industrial schools: Tho expen-diture-under this head has increased by £126 _only. eonsiderably less than was anticipated." .... ■; ■■