Mangonui County Times AND NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1904. The Maladministration of Charitable Aid.

Northland Age, 11 October 1904, Page 2

Mangonui County Times AND NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1904. The Maladministration of Charitable Aid.

“What right, what true, what fit we justly call, Let this be all my care—for this is all.” —Pope.

Mangonui County’s Incubus. The subject of Charitable Aid Administration in this County has been discussed until almost threadbare; meanwhile the disbursements have steadily increased from year to year, and we now have a state of affairs which is appalling. Apparently in this the ratepayers have acquiesced, otherwise would have recognised that it wasjtheir bounden duty to return candidates, at the County elections, pledged to reform. Truly, adverse criticisms have been plentiful, hut determined action has been wanting. The Councillors have at last taken the initiative, having passed a resolution at their last meeting whereby all pprsops (who are in the position to l'Spdyj to whom Charitable Aid has been granted, will he compelled to refund, failing which legal proceedings will be taken. We exhort the Councillors to stand firmly to their guns, and see that the isg§olriipn is given effect to. Our ojimion, judging from the past, is that this resolution wjll share the fate of other resolutions and by-laws tending to reform, viz., be shelved and become a dead letter. We hope our tication will not be jUMMUtoor a- /

names of those who have been assisted in the past, some of whom, if only right-minded, should feel themselves disgraced and pauperized in receiving pub- . lie charity without making the ! least attempt to refund. There < are some on the list of those- J assisted who were in abject j poverty; dispensing to such our ; charity is noble. But, that per- j sons in good positions, owners i of property—some we have ! noticed driving behind their pair ; of spanking horses—should he , recipients of public charity is 1 fstrous and illegal. Those ; . have been parties to voting County funds to such are : deserving of ignominy. More- ; over, the Act distinctly debars owners of property from receiv- ■ ing Charitable Aid. We write ■ strongly, feeling that we have : the support bf the inhabitants in throwing our weight of influence on the side of reform, and also feel confident that councillors will he strongly supjrortejirby the majority of ratepayers in any movement they make in the same direction. For ourselves, having received many letters on the subject, we feel strongly pledged to render what assistance we can, and appeal to those who have received mone.tary Wd in the past, and are now in ' a position to refund, to do so with a good grace. It was our intention (providing the County Council had not moved in the matter) to publish a return giving the names of all persons- who have been in receipt of Charitable Aid during the past fen years. The ratepayers could then judge as to whom should be legally dealt with, with a view to the recovery of arrears. Meanwliile “ Taihoa.”