The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23,1886. CHARITABLE AID.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1458, 23 January 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23,1886. CHARITABLE AID.

The question of distributing charitable aid is one involved in much difficulty. Until recently charitable aid was distributed by Mr March, on behalf of the Government, but since the appointment ot a local Board, nnder the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions' Act of last session, this has been changed. The Board in Timaru now has had shifted upon its shoulders this thankless task, and judging from the reports that are afloat the change has not been for the better so far as those receiving charitable aid are coacerned. The Charitable Aid Board have, it appears, resolved to practice economy, and have lessened considerably the allowances which recipients of charitabla relief

have been m Uie babit of r> ceivinp. Three or four instances of tins km<l have been brought uu.ier our notice. In the first case the allowance was reduced from L2 per month to LI 3* 4d ; in the second case from Ll 10a to 17b Bd.; and in another instance a family which required relief very much was struck off altogether. But sorioue as the reductions appear they are not so touch complained of as the other alterations which have been madp. Until the Board came into existence money was given ; now only an order npon a storekeeper for so much ford is obtainable. Bread, meat, potatoes, ten, sugar, and salt are provided, bat no allowances are made for iuel, light, clothing, and many other things necessary for existence The proportion in which sorao of thn above articles are supplied too, shows that the scale has not been drawn up by a practical housewife. For instance, to lib of tea there is only 81b of sugar allowed, whereas the proper complement would have been about 6lb of 6Ugar. This anomaly, however, might have been overlooked if the provisions other, wise made were sufficient, but we are positively assured they are not, and that it is impossible for some helpless families to exiet on the allowances they receive. This we have on no less an authority than Constable Morton, whose duty it has be«n to inquire, on behalf of the Government, into such c»ses, and recommend as to the assistance that would be sufficient tc maintain them. We are rather inclined to believe that the Constable has seen too much of the world to be easily misled in such cases, and consequently a good deal of weight is to be attached to his opinion. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton, who may be looked upon as " the guide, philosopher, and friend," and the confidant of the poor of all denominations, is of the same opinion. His goodness of heart, and the intense interest he takes in the well-being of the poor, might possibly render h;m liable to allow his feelings to outrun his judgmeut in matters of this kind, but when we find his opinion supported by the Constable we cannot help thinking that he is pretty well correct. To us it appears, therefore, that there are grounds for complaint, and that the question is one which ought to receive attention. Times are hard, certainly, but not so hard that the helpless should be allowed to want what is necessary to keep them alive. Ono of the greatest objections to the preient system is, we believe, that nothing but food is given. By what process of reasoning the Board arrived at the conclusion that nothing more was necessary we cannot understand, but it appears to us that in cases whore a large, helpless family of yoang children are dependendent on a poor, sickly mother, clothing and fuel are equally indespensible. Of course it is necessary to exercise great care that none but the helpless and deserving are maintained on public charity, and doubtless it is difficult in all cases to draw the line. We can realise fully that the Charitable Aid Board have a delicate, thankless, and onerous duty to perform, and we submit they ought to be given credit for being desirous of doing the best they can. But at the same time we must tell them that to carry economy too far in these matters would land them in the position of the old man with the ass. They would please no one, not even their own consciences, in the end. They must not pamper, but they must not starve; they must try to hit upon the happy medium between the two, and so far as we can learn, it is necessary for them to re-consider some of their past actions before they will have done so. As to what is bast to be done at present, we should recommend the local Charitable Aid Committee to meet and examine minutely into each case requiring relief, and report to the Board in Timaru upon them. If this is done we feel confident the Board will receive the Committee's recommendations with due respect, and, if practicable give effect te them.