CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 506, 20 August 1902, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

OLD MEN’S HOME.

A meeting of the Hoard was held last night after the Borough Council meeting, to consider a motion which Cr Whinray had given notice of that the Board should consider the obtaining of a more suitable sito. In moving his motion Cr Whinray said that he had nothing definite to suggest as to a site, but the letters received from other Boards showed tho wisdom of something being done. Ho thought if they eould get five acres somewhere for the Home it would be a great advantage to have it worked, and also remove temptations from tho men. Tho cost of keeping the old men was increasing, and there were many reasons why tho obtaining of a large area should bo a benefit. If the motion were carried he would ask that a committee bo set up to go into the subject of site. Cr Mason seconded the motion. The Southland Board seemed to have had a great success with their farm, and they might well discuss the matter, though Cr Whinray had nothing definite to put before them. He thought the old men would bo happier with a little employment. Cr Lysnar supported the motion. Tho I Home, ho thought, should almost bo made self-supporting. Now that they had the I railway it would facilitate bringing produco into the town. If the men were away from tho town it would remove temptations from them. They might remove one of tho buildings on tho presont site. They had to make a Home somewhere, and could do it on some other piece of ground. In reply to Cr Bright, the Mayor said that tho Council owned tho present site and buildings. Cr Bright supported tho motion, and said it was a very bad feature to have men in idleness. They would, ho believed, save money by establishing a farm where poultry, etc., would bo kept. Cr Jones said he did not opposo the motion, but he urged that they must without delay have a new building put up. He was hopeful that when the Veterans’ Home was established some of the old soldiers in the Home would make it their abode. If the present tenements were occupied by anyone else the Council would have it condemned. What he objected to was the delay. Cr Lysnar : There would be no delay. Cr Kennedy recognised that something mould be done to improvo tho housing of ;he men, and ho would support the motion [ f a committee were set up to report at next meeting. Cr Lysnar suggested that they might be ablo to obtain ten acres at Makaraka. The Mayor said that if it were not for the delay in providing a better place the motion would be all right. He also pointed out that most of the men in the Homo were unable to work. He believed that any expectation of profit from work would end in disappointment. There was urgent need for better quarters for the men, the housing being a disgrace. He had no objection to tho scheme being considered, but from his experience of the men in the Home lie did' not think they would get the work out of them. Cr Bright: A wrong view to take. The Mayor : A view based on my own experience of them, knowing their age and the efforts made to get them to work. Cr Hepburn supported the motion, saying that if the men were a good distance away from the town they would not have the temptations to come into town seek

ing drink. Some of the men could do a little work. As it was they simply smoked and lolled away the time. Idleness was apt to make men disagreeable. Cr Bright, as the originator of tho proposal, said his desire was not to grind work out oi C.'d men who were incapable of doing it ; but he claimed chat some congenial and light work engaging their mind would be a great aid to the men in the Home. As they had to build they should get a suitablo site. i k Cr Lysnar said that an old man who had come out of the Home had worked well for him for twelve months. Any I man left in idleness would become listless I and decrepid. Cr AA'hinra.y said he fully recognised the need for better quarters, and they should rise to the occasion, and have a report by nest meeting.

Cr Harding said that Cr Whinray had 'had this proposal in hand for eight or nine years, and he was co’dially in favor of it, so long as nothuiv was done to try and put aside the need for better quarters, and to have a rep >rt by next meeting. He knew from experience that what the .Mayor had said was correct as to the past; all efforts previously had failed to get the work done. Still it was not for them to look to the past but to the future,

and he would support the motion if the proposal for better quarters were not hung up. Cr Jones pointed out that his proposal had been brought up in August of 1901, and nothing had been done in regard to it yet. The motion was carried, Cr Jones dissenting on the ground of the delay in providing suitable quarters. Crs Lysnar, Bright, Whin ray, and Mason were appointed a Committee to report on the subject at next meeting,