The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1519, 30 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1878.

The most important business transacted at the meeting of the Selwyn County Council on Friday last was the consideration of the proposals by the Government in reference to the maintenance of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions. These the Chairman, with commendablo caution, views with a certain amount of suspicion as a scheme, the successful carrying out whereof depends greatly upon a combination of surrounding circumstances possible in Arcadia but very doubtful in Canterbury. The proposal made is— That a Board of Management bo ap. pointed in proportion, as may be agreed by the couutios and boroughs between Rangitata and Hurunui, to eontsol and direct tho administration of charitable aid ; that these bodies should contribute in proportion, also to bo agreed upon among themselves to the necessary cost of maintenance, either by grants from their funds or by raising voluntary sub-

scriptions for the purpose, for tho support of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions. If this is done, and tlio future responsibility for these institutions is taken over by iho Board, tho Government will contribute out of tho colonial revenue one-half the expenditure incurred upon them. If. however, the proposal is not accepted, then tho Government will continue to provide for tho wholo of such expenditure, and deduct the wholo cost from tho subsidies payable to tho local bodies interested. As tho Chairman of tho Council pertinontly remarks: —■ "To make this plan effective, the Boards must all agree to come under it; tlioy must all agree as to the proportion in which they shall bo represented on the Board; they must all agree as to tho proportion in which they shall contribute to its funds, and they must all pay their contributions punctually"; and if these difficulties that at present soem insuperable wore really got over, it remains to be seen what benefit it would be to tho Counties to undertake tho responsibility the Government seek to thrust upon them. To make their places comfortable by putting the work out has been the earnest endeavour of honorablo members of tho Grey Government since the misfortune of their accession to place and power, and this latest development of their intentions is quito in keeping with their general policy. Another matter to be considered in reference to this proposal is, suppose it is accepted, what guarantee will the Counties receive that tho Government will honestly perform its portion of the contract. The promise at present held out is, in the event of compliance, a contribution of one-half; tho threat that accompanies it is, in tho event of refusal, the deduction of tho wholo cost from the subsidies now paid to the Counties. The present benefit from tho acceptance of the proposal is doubtless material, but here the proverb of tho bird in hand being worth two in the bush seems applicable to tho situation Tho Government at present must support charitable institutions, but let the Counties oneo accept tho responsibility, there is nothing to hinder the Ministry bringing down a bill next session to reduce the subsidies sufficiently to allow for the £ for £ contribution promised, and this would undoubtedly leave the local bodies in a much worse position than at present. Altogether tho question is surrounded by difficulties, and we shall watch tho proceedings of the conference convened for the consideration of the proposal with interest. There is one portion of Colonel Whitmore's letter that justly called forth condemnation from its recipient, and that is where the writer states that the recognition of a right to charitable relief is an objectionable feature in the laws of the mother country. This sentence, if it means anything at all, is intended to convey the idea that the right to charitable relief should in the colouy also be regarded as an objectionable feature, and should be discouraged as much as possible. This expression of opinion from a member of tho "working man's friend" Government is certainly strange, and wonderfully pitiful. Tho friendship entertained by the Grey party for the working man evidently only exists so long as the object of it is able to work and contribute to the revenue from which "his friends and their friends" derive their salaries and perquisites. When sickness overtakes the laborer at his work, or when old age and infirmities prevent him toiling through the ten hours that tho Government Have decided is the fair duration of his working day, then his right to draw relief from tho state ho has helped to support is to be looked upon as objectionable, and it is deemed advisable that the bread ho needs shall be made as bitter as possible for him. This at least seems to be the opinion of the Colonial Secretary, and it is certainly supported by the actions of his colleagues. The working men will do well to boar this in mind when the inevitable result of the present period of misgovernment arrives.