THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1881. OUR CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2261, 1 July 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1881. OUR CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in a remark made by him at the last meeting, touched upon a subject of far more importance to the general community tban at first sight it appears to be. It is admitted on all hands that the institution at Ashburton known as the Old Men's Home, is far from being suited for the purpose, and it is also clear that such a place is a necessity, and cannot be dispensed with. Therefore, as the chairman of the Board very pithily but forcibly put it, the next body taking charge of distribution of charitable aid, will have to face the work of orecting a building devoted in part, perhaps, to some such purpose as the one at Ashbmrton. There is no escape from tho position. Whether times are good or bad wo shall always, as a rising and growing community, have a cortain amount of helpless indigence to provide for. This being so, the question arises, How is it to be done ? To orect a building such as that required would cost a large sum of money—money, too, which, be it remembered, must come out of rates—and the ratepayers would find another rate saddled upon them, in addition to the very heavy burdens now imposed. It therefore behoves us to see if by any means we ean secure a suitable building, and do so at the least possible cost to tho ratepayers. In a former article we brieily

alluded to a plan by which this might be done, and a recapitulation of it now is rendered singularly apropos by the chairman's remarks. The Government possess, as our readers are doubtless aware, a very.. valuable frontage in Armagh street, on which is erected that tumble-down pile of buildings known as the Armagh street Depot. This institution also, like the on© at Ashburton, is totally unfitted for the purpose to which it is applied, besides which, we conceive that a populous part of the city is by no means the most desirable spot to plant an institution of this kind. The site, if put into the market, would realize a very handsome sum, sufficient to purchase a less valuable but quite suitable site elsewhere. Not only so, but we are very much mistaken if there would not be something left to go towards the cost of erecting the building. This building would confine in one the two institutions now existing at Ashburton and in Armagh street, and in this way a saving would be made in more ways than one. For instance : An applicant, to be admitted into the Old Men's Home, if accepted, has to be paid for on the railway out of the ratepayers' funds. As the largest proportion of inmates come from large centres of population like Christchnrch, there is no necessity whatever for having the institution at Ashburton. Besides the matter of expense, there is also the difficulty of efficient supervision being carried out, both by the members of the Board and their executive officer. Every visit to the Ashburton Home, as now arranged, means the loss of time of a day, besides cost. It will, therefore, be seen that, both on the score of economy and increased efficiency of working, the plan proposed by us possesses great advantages. Another and minor consideration is that a large section of the public would be glad to see the Depot removed to some less populous portion of the city than it now occupies. However well such an institution may be conducted—and we are not saying one word against its management — there are bound to be some things which one would not care to see thrust under the eyes of everyone. If the site were sold, not alone would the appearance of one of the streets of the city be greatly improved, but a method would be provided whereby—in part at least—the cost of building an institution such as we must have would be lifted from the shoulders of the ratepayers. We are unablo to see any good argument against such a course, whilst there are many, and very weighty ones in its favour. We hope some practical steps will be taken in the matter, either by communicating with the members for Christchnrch or addressing the Government direct.