CHARITABLE AID

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2302, 14 July 1921, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID

UNDER the Health Aet of 1020 fho words “charitable aid” wore deleted from the title of Hospital Boards, for the purpose of removing: the taint of charity as far as possible from this branch of a Board’s activities (states the New Zealand -Journal of Health). A circular has been sent to Hospital Boards advising them to discontinue the terms "Charitable Aid Committee,” and substitute therefor the term "Social Welfare Committee." Some Boards have already adopted this designation for such committees of their Boards. It is also suggested that - licit expressions as “financial assistance” or “granting of relief” should be used instead of such expressions as “giving of charitable aid,” and that the term “pecuniary relief” should he used when it was desired to differentiate such relief from medical relief. The Department’s opinion is that all such matters should be dealt with by the Hospital Boards, and in cases of misfortune due to no fault on the part of the person needing assist-, anee that any objection to applying to Hospital Boards should be removed. Such objections generally have their origin in a disinclination to apply to a “charitable” organisation. At present far too many application- for assistance are received by the Government, and at

every turn the Government is faced with a request to undertake activities which tiro entirely the function of Hospital Boards.