THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1999, 21 July 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1880.

It must bo satisfactory to the public to note from the reports presented weekly at the meeting of the Benevolent Aid Society that the necessity for the establishment of the soup kitchen is all but at an end. The cases applying for relief have now dwindled down to very few indeed, and the majority of these have received, and still are receiving, charitable aid. These must, therefore, he looked upon in tho light of permanent dependants upon either the State or the charity of the public. The method of relief for such cases should not he by the giving away of soup to all or any who may come for it, but by a regular system, such as is adopted by the Charitable Aid Board. Let any one who feels interested, obtain a look at tho register of cases dealt with by the Benevolent Association. In the majority of eases, we venture to say that at the present time they are Charitable Aid pensioners. It is matter for deep regret that ever such an institution as tho Soup Kitchen was established amongst us. It was founded, indeed, with tho very best intentions, and no doubt the crisis came on so suddenly as not to allow of picking and choosing in tho means which should be employed. But at tho boat it was a disagreeable alternative, and it has naturally failed in tho direction of finding work for willing hands who desire to support their family without the—to them—degradation of having to take public charity. It has now, apparently done its work, aided by the willing hands who have generously come forward to support it, but we trust that tho time has come when it may be abolished never to be again beard of in Canterbury. Fortunately tho winter has proved unoxceptionally fine; men have found it possible to carry on their outdoor avocations without much hindrance on the score of weather, and the Government have been enabled to givo work to a large number of the unemployed. Thus it is that tho outlook to-day is by far less gloomy than it was some few months back, and without inflicting any hardship whatever tho soup kitchen can now be very well dispensed with. And in connection with the relief necessary for tho families of those engaged on the Public Works, wo are glad to find that the Government purpose, in dealing with the men on tho relief works, to compel those of them who have wives and families to make some provision for their support whilst they are away. So far as can bo gathered, the plan intended to bo pursued by tho Government is that a certain sum weekly shall he deducted from their pay, and shall ho obtainable

by tlio wife on application at the Christchurch office. This, it will bo observed, will meet the many cases which are constantly occurring of men going up to these works, drawing and spending the whole of their wages, and leaving their wives and children to bo supported by the public or the Government. A number of those coming before the committees of the Charitable Aid Board, and the Benevolent Aid Society belong to tbis class, and those institutions will bo proportionately relieved by the necessity for their applying having ceased. Wo trust, therefore, that the committee will see their way clearly to deciding upon closing the Soup Kitchen. Whether necessary or not, in the first instance, surely the time has now come that it may be safely abolished. The Benevolent Association may well direct its energies into the channel of private relief, but the Soup Kitchen as a public charity will, we hope, soon be a thing of the past.