The Dunstan Times. Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, !877.

Dunstan Times, Issue 799, 10 August 1877, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, !877.

Despite all that may be said against the Charitable Institutions Bill how before Parliament (an outline of which we give in another column) by the Government opponents, we unhesitatingly pronounce it, that is the part dealing with hospitals—as to orphanages and reformatories we will not here offer an opinion—as sensible a measure as could have been proposed. That it is perfect we do not say, but hold that it is a groundwork upon which a more comprehensive measure can be constructed. To call it a Poor Law is a mistake, and we are afraid a very wilful one on the part of those whose nearly every second word is Poor Law T or Ponr-honse. Do the residents on our Goldfields look upon their Hospitals as Poor-houses, or do they dole out their subscriptions and contributions as if paying poor rates 1 We deny such an aspersion. It not being a poor law on tho Goldfields, it cannot by any force of reasoning be one on the seaboard, therefore it is applicable for both. Mr de Labour, whilst speaking against the Bill—we beg his pardon, not speaking against the Bill, but speaking the view? of his party— says : Tho Goldfields hospitals were not created but grew, that is, the miners established them, and then called upon the Government for assistance. Now, what in the name of common sense is the difference 1 none. Dir de Latour, as a Goldfields member, was asked by his party to say a something ; and more’s the pity. He acquiesced, ns he said that the people on the Otago Goldfields were perfectly content to support their hospitals, and that tho Government, out of the general revenue should wholly maintain the institutions in every other part of the country. That such is not the case we are sure, and equally sure are we that if such is tho decision of the House the residents on the Goldfields will resent it. The cry of paupers, poor laws, and poor houses is a sham, as is proved by the fact that there are none on the Goldfields where the voluntary system has been in vogue for the past 15 years. The Bill aims at encouraging private charity, therefore it should receive the support of the entire community. It advances no new- system, hut tho extension of a. system that has been found to work admirably ; and we son no reason why that system should not he so extended

as to include the large seaports amongst the towns which voluntarily contribute towards the support and maintainance of their sick and distressed. The only direction in which any amendment should be made is in the giving greater powers to the Management, especially in the direction of seeking payment from persona who receive relief trom the institution, whether as in-door, or out-door patients, and who are possessed of sufficient means to pay for such relief.