A Hard Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1567, 27 November 1885, Page 4

A Hard Case.

J Wanganui Herald. \ As shewing the weak point m th» system of distributing charitable aid on this coast, we eive the following account of what may happen a man m New Zealand who has misfortune to be disabled and unable to earn his own living. There is now m Wanganui Gaol a man named Charles Wilson, who has committed no crime, saving that of having no visible means of support. He is 35 years of age, has been 13 years m the colony and until a year or so ago worked m the bush and on contracts as a labourer. At last his sight failed him, and he went to Wellington and was admitted to the hospital there, but was after a time discharged as incurable. He was also, we believe, m the Wanganui Hospital with no better results. He then drifted back to Palmerston North, where he had been working for some time, and was for a while helped by the authorities there. Eventually they got lirod of supporting this unfortunate man, and the Vagrant Act was twisted into a strained channel to relieve the Palmerston authorities of the burden of Wilson's support. He was therefore sentenced to a month's irnnrisonment m Wanganui ffaol for beii» blind and unable to earntiis own living. These Palmerston solans think, no doubt, that a month m Wanganui gaol will open Wilson's eyes. When the month is up, and the man discharged from gaol, where is he to go ? If to Palmerston, what is to do when he gets there to keep himself out of the clutches of the policeman and the Vagrancy Act? There is no place here for such cases, as the Hospitable is wanted for those amenable to medical treatment. What k required ia a home of some sort for these unfortunate people, who are unable to do anything towards their own support, anil are dependent on others for their smallest needs. Such an institution might fairly claim support from all the bodies within the radius of the united district, as there is no doubt but its shelter would be sought by people from all parts thereof, who are now shunted about from one place to another, until, as m the case of this blind man Wilson, they are sent to gaol to save tHeir lives. This should not be so, m a civilised country, ami we hope that such a roproaoli on the colony will be speedily removed, and proper provision made for the accommodation and support of helpless and destitute people, whose misfortunes may render them incapable of helping themselves.