CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4212, 7 September 1892, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

CharitableAAitd t and its Distri button in Masterton, etc,

[To me Editor.] Sir,—As a conference of local bodies was being held recently to discuss the above question and as no definite measure was adopted at such meeting, I beg to say a few words regarding this important question, In tho first place let me ask what precautions are taken before granting relief in Masterton, My answer to the question is simply this—none whatAll tho applicants do is to aak and they receive and, mind you, they only ask once a month, or in other words renew their applications, In fact, I believe some only make one application and relief is continued. Now, Sir,- let us seo how this business is transuded in thcNorth Canterbury District Charitable Aid Board, The Board meet once a week. All applicants must- be present and must .fshow substantial reasons why relief should be further granted. Consequently, in most cases relief is only temporary. In Masterton it is different, The cases seem to bo chronic, and a great many totally undeserving of any relief, In Christchurcb a gentleman is deputed to visit the homes of the applicants and if possible ascertain whether the statements made by applicants before the Board are accurate, if noi, he informs the Board and no further aid is administered. Aro the officios in Masterton so cautious in distributing aid 1 I say emphatically, No I Hundreds of who do not apply at all are fffjnore deserving cases than thoso tp whom relief ij granted. 1 say « map wj(,h a grown uj) family, and a Tjvife in good health, no matter if the father is unab|e to work, should be supported by his family. Some of those to whom aid is granted appear to outsiders to be far more respectably dressed, apd in possession of more »luxuries " than those who do not rcpeive it, And how can gentlemen who are on the list frequent the piiWfc bare and get drunk, when the monoy they spend in drink would be required at homo? Again, in Christchurch the applicants receive no money, but rations. '|he Boafd advertises or coliojta tep-

dere, and, as a result, is supplied with 1 rations at a very low cost, Then, when they oonsider the applications and if the Committee-grant the they get so mueli meat, bread, potatoes as is 00. sidorod necessary, and hence the cost per head is not one hall what it is here. Then the quostion arises, why not establish n Home?Soiue people Call it a workhouso. Ido not, Somo of the uld men could by this means work at gardening or some other light employment., and thus do something for tlioir living, and not deserve the name of paupers. The other reason why I am in favour of establishing a homo is that this experience would show to the publitf that not one half of those noiv applying for relief would do so. They would try and support themselves, which thoy could if tlioy only wished, and would bo afraid' of entering a " house" and be placed under a little superrision. Apologising for trespassing so much on your space, I'am, etc,, Pug Bono Publico,