The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1485, 19 November 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1878.

Under the existing state of tilings constitutional, which was brought about by the abolition of provincialism, one of the most important social issues with which the Government should have been urged to deal, is without doubt that involved by what is generally known as the charitable aid question. For years past many direct sources of revenue —the land fund especially—wore drawn upon to satisfy the exigencies of the moment in providing for the various shades of pauperism which, in all civilised countries, form an inevitable evil, part of the body social. But these various sources of revenue are gradually failing, a now order of things has boon established in the administration of affairs, and this question of charitable aid—always a vexed one— has been allowed to remain by Parliament in as unsatisfactory a position as it has been during late years. The Charitable Institutions Bill, fathered by the Ministry at an early part of the session, met with an untimely end, and since, the Cabinet has evidently let things drift regardless of the crying want which exists for having the matter placed upon a tangible and well - understood basis. So far as we can see, and notwithstanding the arguments of Messrs, Ballanco and Whitmore, the impractical and highly unsatisfactory system of government, paying pound for pound in aid of local contributions is likely to drag itself

along for some time to come. Colonel Whitmore certainly has stated that a measure, dealing comprehensively with the case, would bo introduced next session, but if the results of the Parliamentary period just ended can bo taken as a criterion of what Iho future has in store for the community, that gallant officer and his colleagues might as well have substituted the words Greek Kalends for those of next session. To our mind, there is something rather mysterious in this way of shelving this Charitable Aid problem, as problem it apparently seems to bo. How vague the ideas of Ministers ai’o on the subject of placing the charitable and benevolent institutions of the colony upon one uniform footing, was made clear when the Colonial Secretary, the other day, tried to make so much capital with a Canterbury audience by telling them that in a certain southern town, “ a private benevolent society had been formed, the success of whose efforts had much relieved the Government in that locality.” This would naturally lead to the conclusion that the Ministry in a great measure, are cpiite willing to lot the burden of charitable dispensations remain at the mercy of local and irresponsible parties, which would practically result in painful exhibitions of inequality in districts more or less endowed with either municipal or private wealth. In certain districts for instance, the civic powers have large funds of general revenue, besides perhaps, being well endowed. In others on the contrary, a daily struggle is undergone to make both ends moot. In some parts of the Middle Island some counties have thousands of pounds to their credit, the balance of their share of Crown laud sales, while many other unfortunates—say the residents of Banks’ Peninsula—do not know which way to turn to provide for the many calls made upon the common purse. Enormous endowments have been secured for educational purposes, and also by religious bodies here and there, but no provision, or very little, has been made in a similar way for purposes of securing relief in the future to the needy, the infirm, the orphans, or neglected children. And Ministers still fall back upon the pound for pound system of contribution, claiming that it is by far cheaper than any other. In a now country like New Zealand, whore population is so scattered and the moans of acquiring wealth are so precarious and unsettled, we cannot help thinking that the ministerial argument is utterly devoid of practical soundness. It has been found to be so in many parts of Europe, where it was deemed necessary some years ago to place the whole system under the management of the Crown. And as wo are now politically constituted, the number of petty governing bodies is already enormous; quite out of proportion in fact to the totals of population, while many of those bodies have no direct responsibilities to higher controlling powers. The land is overrun by Committees, Boards, and what not. One-half of the community, or perhaps more, holds some sort of administrative power over the remainder, and by shirking its duties in failing to make more direct and better defined provision for this “ necessary evil,” the charitable aid question, Ministers are doubtlessly rendering themselves open to grave accusations. If, however, local organisation is to be finally adopted, then it will be obviously necessary to once more swell the list of “ governing bodies,” and to constitute what additional machinery may be deemed wanted for the purpose.

Why, why, is this thusness P What for and wherefore is the change in the colonial defence twaddle that has lately been rambling through the columns of the “ Lyttelton Times” and the “ Star.” Far from us be it to charge such a remarkable alteration to them as’the result of cowardice on the part of our friends. We know their pluck, aud the bottom they have too well to take that line. Colonel Whitmore, moreover, is not so formidable a combatant as to frighten our friends. By the by, whomever did he combat ? But this is merely outside the subject in hand, and we will be content with an answer to the question at the leisure of any of our numerous and increasing correspondents. Where were we, oh, the hot leader in the “ Star ” last night, will effectually dispose of the pretensions of the hon. and gallant colonel. It is taking the bread out of our mouths to be sure, but it is sweet and decorous to die in the defence of one’s country, and as the “Star” and “Times” have yielded to our over powering argument, we forgive them for their present want of courtesy. To wind up, we think if the “ Times” and “ Star” lend us a hand, we can together shut up such spouters as Colonel Whitmore, and cover him and his mates with the ridicule they deserve. «. CotTNCILLOK Cass, He knows an ass— And so do wo, when we see him. The jingle of the above words has been running in our head ever since we heard the gentleman referred to hold forth last night, and really the temptation is too great to resist. Without questioning Cass’s knowledge of horse flesh, or without desiring in the least to be offensive, may we ask him and his fellow-councillors to give us in future somewhat better food than the chaff this particnlar animal and the Council seems to feed upon. The circusarena —to borrow a phrase from our evening rival —does not now, nor ever has, offered to crowded audiences, such amusement as may be had free gratis for nothing at any of the fortnightly meetings of the City Council.