AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9095, 22 May 1908, Page 5

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Bt TE Ij 13311.V? II — A.S3OCTA.TIOK. CHRISTCHURCH, May 21. At yesterday's meeting of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board the chairman cited a case which the board had been called upon to relieve under somewhat extraordinary circumstances. A man was granted an o'd age pension by a stipendiary magistrate, but the pension appeared to have been afterwards disallowed by the registrar at Wellington. Consequently, the recipient who had not previously applied to the board for relief found himself under the necessity of doing so when deprived of the benefit of a provision made for his declining years. How far there might be authority for over-riding the decision of the magistrate (who it might be presumed had satisfied himself that the applicant was justly entitled to a pension) the chairman did not pretend to judge, but he thought the board might ask the Premier to look into a matter of this kind, seeing that the board was now required to assis 1 , the old man in question. The chairman further mentioned that ihe number of applications made by or on behalf of old age pensioners for admission to the board's homes (which are primarily established for housing absolutely destitute persons) was rapidly increasing. A member gave notice to move at next meeting that the board provide a home for old-age pensioners who are not capable of looking alter themselves. It was no good looking to the Government.. They should take the bull by the horns themselves.

On the motion of Mr Dunlop it was resolved that the chairman write to the Premier and enquire into the circumstances of the case mentioned.