The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1384, 23 July 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1878.

In an article on the work of the approaching session, the Otoyo Daily Times refers to the impression which prevails in many quarters that Ministers have no intention of dealing, during the present session, with the question of the re-distri-bution of seats. The absence of auy reforence to it in recent Ministerial utterances has led to the belief that Government had abandoned the measure. But our contemporary learns, on the very best authority, that so far from this being the case, if the measure is not actually drafted, its details are fully arranged, and that a re-arrangement of the electorates on a satisfactory basis will bo most probably amongst the earliest measures submitted to the Assembly. Our contemporary advocates popidation as the basis of the re-adjustment, and insists on the prime importance of not increasing the number of members. The House, it contends, is quite large enough already, and although it would bo much easier to add a few additional seats whore required, it is pointed out that the proper system to adopt is to join districts together which are over-represented now. The Daily Times also advocates the adoption of self-adjusting machinery *‘ which may provide for the growth of inequalities in all future time, without the necessity of recurrence to the ever unpleasant duty of fresh legislation on this delicate subject.” In former articles wo have urged at length the great importance of making such provision, and can only hope that our contemporary in proposing its adoption, speaks the mind of Ministers on the subject.

The report of the visit of the Charitable Aid Board to the Solwjii Homo reveals a state of things which to say the least of it is hardly creditable to us. It is true that the buildings are notoriously unfitted for the purpose of an institution such as the Old Men’s Homo. But that is not the worst part. The evils noticeable during the visit of the Board arise from a different source. The unsuitability of the building could only be cured by a change of site, but it was surely in the power of the officer in charge to mitigate to a very great extent the positive squalor which has been proved to exist. There certainly was no reason why far greater cleanliness should not have been enforced if not by the labor of the inmates themselves then by outside assistance. The institutions of this kind, more especially one in which feeble and aged inmates are placed, require the most scrupulous cleanliness to bo enforced, otherwise the chances arc that disease will bo rife. That such has not been the case at Solwyu is probably mainly duo to the salubrity of the silo. Of the necessity, however, for immediate action, and thorough change in flio adip.i-

lustration of tho institution, there can bo no doubt. Tho community is bound to succour the helpless and infirm inmates of that Homo under any circumstances. As one of tho members of tho Board put it, tho public are as much bound to provide for tho support of tho aged and unfortunate amongst them as for their own families. Their case stands altogether on a different basis to the general question of charitable aid. Tho recipients of the latter are mainly composed of wives and families who have been deserted or whoso natural protectors have come within tho scope of the law. Many of these, it may bo, only require temporary assistance to enable them to tide over until a bettor time arrives. But with the Selwyn Homo inmates it is different. They have gone down in tho battle of life, so much so that they can never hope to fight again. For tho most part in addition to poverty they have .also to bear the additional burden of physical aftliction. Many of them are crippled, and all are utterly unable to work in any way. Thus they have a double claim upon the sympathy of tho public, and their case demands perhaps exceptional treatment. Wo must confess to a fooling of regret that tho state of things now disclosed should have been—as undoubtedly has been the case —allowed to exist. But, in saying this, the public as a body are not to blame. Up to a very recent period but few wore aware even of the existence of such an institution, or had the remotest conception of tho state of its internal arrangements. Had it boon so, wo have no doubt there would have been a movement in the direction of an immediate change being made, even if tho cost had to bo borne by the community themselves. It is therefore very satisfactory that tho Board, at an early stage of its existence, should have made an inspection, and also that, having done so, a change has been resolved upon. But such a change as is now contemplated can only be of a temporary nature. It is, wo understand, thought by the Board that tho Immigration Barracks at Ashburton can bo utilised for the present. This may bo so, but it must also bo recollected that those buildings will bo required during the ensuing season for tho purposes for which they were erected. Only a very few months will have to elapse before wo shall again be in the season of the year when immigration may bo expected to bo resumed. Again it is useless to shut our eyes to the fact that wo must make permanent provision for tho relief of cases such as those now in tho Homo. As the provincial district increases in population, so will the number of such claims upon our sympathy. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to take steps now for the provision of a suitable permanent building, and to make such arrangements as will prevent most effectually the recurrence of a state of things of which Canterbury lias cause to bo ashamed. It will bo for tho Charitable Aid Board to bring this matter forcibly before the Government, pointing out the immediate necessity which exists for the provision of a suitable institution. Let application bo made by tho Board for power to secure a site and erect a building. It will have to bo done sooner or later, and surely no one would advocate the continuance of the present state of things one day longer than is absolutely necessary.