CHARITABLE AID

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 8

CHARITABLE AID

WHAT IT COSTS WELLINGTON ANNUALLY A DOWNWARD TENDENCY In the course of his annual report subfitted to tho committee of tho Hospital and. Charitablo Aid Board yesterday, Mr. A ; : .H. Truebridge, Superintendent of Charitable Aid, gave some interesting information. Tho estimated expenditure ior tho past year was .£13,975, but tho amount expended had been ,£13,770, or «E1!)9 below the estimate.

The volume both of indoor and outdoor relief (says (he report) has shown a downward tendency, tho daily total average number of persons in receipt of relief being '288, against 313. While, however, this is so, the continued rise in the price of commodities and other services has tended to increase the actual cost, so that comparisons in terms of money afford but little assistance from an administrative point of viow. "Careful calculations have, however, been made on a quantitative basis, and these show that the relative ratios have been well maintained, and that wherever an increase in cost is disclosed it is traceable to justifiable causes, principally variation of stocks in hand or to increased prices. The first of these causes must, of course, always operate towards obscurity of actual cost and confusion of comparisons in the, perhaps unavoidable, absence of the commercial mode, of dealing with them. . .. "It is worthy of notice that inoro thar., half of tho tot.'il cost of charitable aid consists of statutory charges payable to the Education Department on account of the maintenance'of indigent children.in industrial and defective children, in special 6chools. Out of last year's expenditure of no less than .27200 was appropriated for these purposes. "There are indications that tho legislative powers'for dealing with tho second of tho above classes, namely, defective children, are beinj; more energetically exercised, as-reflected in the amount payable by the board, which, has Increased during the past year by some -ClOO.' For tho information of members it may be explained that tho Education Act, 1911, makes provision for the especial care of blind, deaf, feeble-minded, and epileptic children, and confers power upon the Miuistor to direct that such children Iμ forthwith sent to a "special school," i.e., n school set apart specially for the care, maintenance, education", or 'training of such children, the charge for maintenance therein falling primarily upon the parent, but secondarily to tho limit of 83. a week upon the Charitablo Aid Boards." The report, further says that tho estimates for the current year amount to Ji13,875, but it is anticipated that icceipte will amount to about £2200, so that the actual estimated, expenditure should be ,£11,675. The manner in which the gross estimate is made an should interest those who have to "pay tho piper." It is as follows:— Ordinary relief 2.G00 Children directly maintained 800 Outdoor medical service '-a Indoor .relief, Ohiro Home 3,600 Statutory charges (children in industrial arid special schools) <,300 , ' '■ 13,875 Less estimated receipts 2,200 Estimated requirements £11,675