The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 354, 7 September 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1878.

—■ . ■ ■ . case illustrating most forcibly the justice of hospital and charitable aid 'expenses being borne by Government Jor The colony as a whole, rather than ]by local bodies, was brought before the jPatea County Council at its last sitting. A working man named Jordan, of -’W’averley, fairly steady and at all times yvilling to earn his living, has become ’.blind. The affliction came on gradually, : nud culminated in almost total blindness .one day whilst the man was working in the bush. It was with the greatest difficulty, and only after numerous narrow escapes from drowning (through falling into creeks), and after having met with a series of minor accidents, that ho found his way to .a settler’s ' house— that of Mr J. W. Kenah—where he .was -taken in and cared .for. 1 1: beooming cvidenb that without skilled .medical treatment there -was no hope of ’recovery, application was in due course ’made Tor Jordan’s admission to the JMtea Hospital, and though the man had not been then employed by, and had no claim .on, Mr Kenah, that gentleman guaranteed the cost of main--1 chance for Jordan, if the County •Council refused to take charge. Mr Kenah attended the Council meeting on Wednesday, explained the circumstances .of the case and the utter helplessness pf Jordan, and desired to know what fhe Council intended to do in the matter. It will bo seen by report of -proceedings that the Council agreed to

take charge, though, as pointed out byMr Bridge, it was a hard case fur the County as well as for the man. During the times of provincialism it often happened that particular provinces.were saddled with the diseased and indigent of other provinces, and, in some cases, strong evidence was brought to light showing that other colonics had not even scrupled to rid themselves of helpless or worthless persons. It was notorious that the authorities helped, or were indirectly instrumental in occasionally ridding themselves ot persons who, from chronic ailment or worthlessness, became chargeable on the funds of a province. It was then frequently deemed a hardship that one province should become chargeable for the maintenance of persons properly belonging to another province. The evil, however, was growled at and borne with, and whfcn opportunity occurred a clearance effected. If it was a hardship for provinces, with the comparatively large funds at their disposal, to be saddled Avith the ailing and helpless, how much more of a hardship must it be for counties to bear the expense of maintaining the poor of their own localities, much less of visitants from other parts. Jordan happens to have been a resident at Waverley for some years. Had he been a stranger passing through the county, and becoming similarly afflicted or meeting with serious accident, being too poor to maintain himself, he would all the same have become chargeable either on the charity ot private settlers or on the funds of the comity. The system of making each borough or county responsible for all the sick and indigent Arithiu their respective boundaries, Avhether properly belonging thereto or being strangers, is, in our opinion, objectionable. Every borough or comity is naturally anxious to have as few undesirables as possible. The appointment of a harsh and unscrupulous relief officer would help to keep hospital and charitable aid expenditure down, and undesirables wbo could not be driven away would stand a chance of being aided away; and, in such fashion, places with harsh avid unscrupulous relief officers vrould have few paupers, and the more humanely officered places would he overburdened. It would be the height of cruelty to refuse relief to a case such as Jordan’s. The Chairman very properly observed that the Council cc could not turn a blind man into tbs streets.” Yet, on the other hand, it is a A r ory serious matter for the county to be saddled with what may turn out to' be a life patient, and one who may yet have the full half of his allotted term to run. The hospital surgeon—Dr Warren had occasion to ask lately for instructions as to chronic patients, such as, while not bed ridden, were still unable, ana JiKciy to remain nimble, to earn sustenance. The question is not unlikely to occur frequently unless satisfactory arrangements are made in regard to such persons. Wo hold that there should be but one parish in Ncav Zealand for relief purposes, which should embrace the whole colony, and that all charges for hospital and charitable aid should come from the general revenue and not be made a local charge. Until this is done there can be no fair apportionment of such charges. It would not be difficult to get trustworthy persons or committees to administer for local requirements. Until some such change is made : as will equalize the charges for hospital and charitable Aid, ’this matter will remain a “ vexed .question.’”