The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1676, 11 February 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1882.

It becomes every day more apparent that further provision will shortly have to be made by the Legislature with regard to what is known as " charitable aid." In Kumara th's matter is forced upon us in a most painful manner, and doubtless other parts of the colony are placed under similar circumstances to ourselves. What is to become of .our indigent old, intirm, and hopelessly diseased persons, one or another of whom is to be met with at every turn? It is quite evident that the hospitals will not be able to bear the burden of their maintenance, and common humanity dictates that some practical steps should be taken to meet and overcome the difficulty which now faces us. The first question to be considered is that of fnn-ls, and in this matter we naturally look to the General Assembly for help. When we consider the hundreds of thousands of pounds yearly drawn from the consolidated revenue, and scattered broadcast over the land, without any adequate result, it naturally occurs to us that a far larger proportion of the public money might be devoted to charitable aid than is the case at present. The little that i 3 given is doled out in the most grudging manner, and in fact no New Zealand Government which evers*t on the benches has ever paid that attention to the subject which its importance demands.

Session after session promises are made to deal with the whole question in a comprehensive manner, but year after year we >e" the same results ; the time of the Assembly is squandeied over useless party struggles, and then when members are tired out and disgusted with what they have or have not done when they are anxious to get hack to their homes at all hazards, some bill with probably several hundred clauses, is hurriediy pushed through, with more blunders in it than there are clauses while the general principle of the measure is not discussed ; or, again, it is most likely than an announcement will be made that owing to "the late period of the session," the bill will have to be put off until the next year. Now this is not as it should be, and in the session which will commence in a few months the whole question should be settled definitely, and arrangements made for the payment of much more liberal subsidies to benevolent institutions than are available at the present time. But in the meantime what is to be done? In the large centres of population there is doubtless to be found a larger proportion of needy persons requiring charitable aid than is the case in smaller communities, but at the same time it must be remembered that there is in such places a large number of wealthy and influential men, who, from the abundance of their means are able and willing to contribute more largely than the dwellers in smaller centres. Another matter to be considered is the constitution of the Benevolent Societies which distribute the small funds placed at their disposal. At the-present time they are self-appointed, and the result is that very little interest is taken by the public generally with regard to their proceedings. Occasionally, it is true, special cases occur in which the entire sympathy of the community is enlisted, and then contributions flow in freely, but we all know that there are many instances in which utter destitution is experienced in addition to chronic maladies, while no help from any quarter is accorded. The Hospital Committee refuse point-blank to receive chronic cases, and the unfortunate sufferers have no help, no refuge. We do not desire to quarrel with the Benevolent Society, but there is no denying the fact that on many occasions their funds have been thrown away on most undeserving objects, while at the same time real cases of utter want, combined with sickness, remained unassisted in many places. Sometimes, as was the case a few evenings ago, there is no quorum, and the most urgent cases remain unattended to, thus incalculable suffering is caused. The work of the Benevolent Society is a labor of love, and it is doubtless carried on in the most meritorious manner, but further funds are required, and continual supervision is necessary over such a district as that of Kumara.