CHARITABLE AID.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4185, 6 August 1892, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID.

Conference of Local Bodies,

A conference of Wairarapa local contributing bodies was held in the County Council Chambers, Masterton, this (Saturday) morning, the following delegates being present:- Messre J. Stuckey, W. H. Beetham, and Cock burn-Hood, Wairarapa North County Council; Elgar, Wairarapa South County Council; E. S. Wakelm, Mayor of Greytown, J. D, Heagerty, Gioytown Borough Council ; S. Bolton, Paliiatua County Council; A, Booth, Mayor of Carterton ; and C. A. Pownall, Mayor of Masterton. Mr Stuckey was voted to the chair. A letter was read from Mr H. R, Bunny, Chairman of the Wairarapa South County Council, opposing the proposal to establish a home in the Wairartpa for the poor and needy. Mr Beetham proposed " That this conference is of opinion that (be time has arrived when it becomes necessary to establish a home for the poor and needy in tho Wairarapa Hospital District,"

Mr C. Elgar seconded. He thought the system of outdoor relief very expensive,

Mr Pownall disagreed with the ex. preßsion contained in Mr Bunny's letter that people would object togo« ing into a poor house. He thought it was to be regretted that such a meeting as the present was required, it would be necessary to pats an Enabling Act to take the steps necessary. He would strongly support the roso Union. Mr Bolton, Chairman of Ibo Pabi-. atua County Council, said his County was opposed altogether to the erection of a poor-house. He would offer no opposition to the resolution, He would like some data. Mr E.'S. Wakelin, Mayor of Greytown, would like to know, if they were going to erect a poor house, how tbey were to maintain it. They would, sooner or later, have to erect a house, and they would have to put up with the evils of the thing on account of tlio good which would come out of it, The residents of Greytown were at present overtaxed.

Mr A. Booth, Mayor of Carterton, said be thought it premature to establish poor houses in the Wairarapa, He believed the feeling in the Wairarapa to be that a good deal of money was sent to the Charitable Aid Hoard and people wanted a3much of it back as possible, He would like information on tlio flnanoial aspect of the case.

Mr thought it was tiuiß something wss done to alter the present stato of things. He would like lo know, however, what woulcjbu the probable taxation for the erection of a home.

Mr Beetbam stated that from what had transpired in the piesent session of Parliament there was little hope of the Wairarapa being severed from Wellington, He thougbt that by establishing a home tbey would be effecting a great economy- The pf es« ontwiiß a very expensive system, Mr Coskbnrn-Hood asked if an estimate of the cost of the proposed home could be given, Mr Stuckey said that persons receiving casual relief would not coat in, so that he could not saywbata home would cost for the Wairarapa, If they had a bouse to put applicants of a certain kind in he felt sure th»t many who now applied for relief would never come btfore them. The present method of dispensing relief was an expensive one, as rent had to be paid in cases where the recipients would be'taken into a'homo, ' Mr C, A. Pownall suggested that a resolution be passed pointing out the advisability of a poor bouse being erected in the Wairarajia, an( l v.! 10 same submitted to the Central J3oari asking what the Board intondod to dp and how much assistance it was pre-j partd to give, Mr B«.etham's motion was then put J and carried.

Mr Pownall then moved that aj letter be sent to the United District I Beard asking if the Board had any objection to a sum being put on the estimates for the ensuing year for the erection oi a poor house in the Wairarapa. Mr Beetham Baid that there was no doubt it would be more economica. in every way to ereqt a poor houso There was no rule laid down as to'

how the Act was to be administered and tho United; District Board must give what-amount was required It was a united district and they could not tax one part morn than another. Tho whole would bo taxed pro rata. Mr Blgar:' Before doing anything they must obtain data as to the cost ofalit/tne. As nn abstract question the meeting seemed unanimously in favour of the establishment ola home. Mr Klsiar moved that delegates from the whole of the contiihuting bodies of the United Board be in« viicd Do attend the next meeting of tho Conference—Carried. The mewing then adjourned.