CHARITABLE AID CONFERENCE.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 199, 21 October 1897, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID CONFERENCE.

(IIY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT). Wellington, Last Night. TIIR Charitable Aid Conference has passed resolutions in favour of the establishment of Industrial Schools and also of colonial institutions for inebriates and others not fit for lunatic asylums. It was mentioned that the Lyttelton Orphanage building now vacant might be used for the purpose of the establishment of an Inebriates Home if Parliament approved. Mr O'Kcgan alluded to the overcrowding in cities, and wanted to call the attention cf the Government to it, but the members thought the subject was outside the scope of the Conference, and more properly a matter for the Municipal authorities. Toe Conference expressed itself iu favour of improving intercolonial legislation iu reference to deserters, and of amending the law to enable a man to be punished in whatever part of the colony he is ciptured, without bringing him to the town of his residence, and also of amending the existing law in reference to the liability of the fathers of illegimate children. Mr Bollard moved : " That the Government subsidies to Hospitals should be IT for IT upon the amount of fees recovered from patients, but the motion was lost. h\ reference to outdoor relief it was decided " That the system of outdoor relief i 3 unsatisfactory and requires amendment, and tlu<t a committee of seven members be appointed to report on the system and the required reforms, the committee to discuss outdoor relief, tin question of establishing farms and industrial tstab'ishments, and the question of desertion." 'The question of abolishing separate institutions was dealt with, it being decided "That in the opinion of the Conference the system which obtains in many charitable aid districts by which charitable aid is obtained and distributed by sep irate institutions should be abolished, and the distribution vested in the Charitable Aid Board." A motion to defray the costs of hospitals and charitable institutions out of the consolidated revenue was lost by 14 to 9.