THE PROPOSED WELLINGTON CONVALESCENT HOME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4326, 25 January 1893, Page 2

THE PROPOSED WELLINGTON CONVALESCENT HOME.

An Interesting Discussion,

The United District Board met in the Wellington Counoil Chambers at ' noon yesterday for the purpose of con« ferring with the promoters of the posed Convalescent Home in referenoeW to the petition of the latter for incor-m> poration as a separate institution. The members of the Board present were: -Messrs S. Lancaster (in the chair)', J, Petherick. L, L. Harris, J. H.Heaton.G.Beetham, W. 0. Buchanan, and W. H. Beetbam. Dr Gillon was the only representative of the promoters of the Home, Mr T. F. Martin, City Solicitor, was also present,

A letter was read from Mr H, J. White expressing regret that he was unablo to attend the meeting. The Chairman-suggested that Dr. Gillon should state what had been done sinco the last meeting of the Board. Dr. Gillon said be did not know what had been done. The Bowd had objected to the ters praying for inefpfatio'n as a separate institution, and he did not know how the matter now stood. The subscribers were anxious to have the complete control of all moneys. Mr Harris pointed out that if the Home were incorporated, tlio promoters would have power to make a levy on the Board for maintenance money, Dr. Gillon: We will not do that, Mr Harris: Subsequent Committee's may do so. Mr Heaton moved that no action be taken with reference to tlio petition jff for incorporation. He regretted i)f&M Dr Gillon was the only subsoriberl present.

; JJr Gillon said that tho subscribers insisted on having the whole control of the proposed Home, He pointed out that it was proposed to erect the Home with tho money raised at the ball held in Thomas' Hall a few, months ago. The Hospital Convalescent Fund was an entirely different I thing, and had dono good work for 14 years,

Mr Harris seconded the motion of Mr Heaton.

_ Mr Buchanan supported the resolutiou. Things in connection with the administration of charitable atd had been mismanaged in Wellington, and the cost had in consequence been doubled. Until an alteration was' made he wouldoppose anything whioh would further increase the expenditure on charitable aid, because the Wairarapa distriot would suffer. The Chairman-Were you not a member of tbe Benevolent Board, Mr Buohanan ?

Mr Buohanan said he had been, aud had found that the Board was not able to keep down the expenditure. In many instances people who were not entitled to relief were assisted, Ho maintained that it was not possible for a Wairarapa man to make himself acquainted tvith the merits of the cases which came bfiiM. the Board, The whole thing wa?R a wrong basis, and pauperism would increase bo long as tho -system remained unaltered, The Chairman said he was a mem* ber of the Benevolent Board. He was positive that relief was not granted except in really deserving oases, If the Wairarapa members would attend regularly at the Board meetings' they would see that the expenditure was justified. Tho Board, ho asserted, had administered its affairs judiciously, and bad done a lot of good. Mr Pethoriok said he had left the Benevolent Board in disgust, because of favouritism.

Mr G, Boetham thought it Was generally admitted that the Aot ' , should bo amended, as it was at pre- , sent unworkable. No doubt many deserving cases had been relieved, but i he thought that in Borne cases aid was , given when it was not really deserved, i Ho thought the Kev. H. Van Stavoren, the Chairman of the Board, had done splendid service, and no doubt if ttab gentleman were to receive loyal support things would go nloug all right in the future. Many people oame to Wellington in Bearoh of work, and finding none they wont away and left their wives and families to be assisted by the Benevolent Board, Insuoh oases the buEband Bhould be made to refund the money so spent, Mr Harris maintained that in numerous cases sufficient enquiry had not been made as to the position of applicants for relief, The present system was unsatisfactory, because it was breeding pauperism. . Mr Martin suggested that Mr Hop. t** ton's motion should bo read as fo|.l lows-" That this Board objects to the proposed incorporation of tba Oonvalesoont Home as a separata institution under the Hospital «nd Charitable Institutions Aot, 1885, on the ground that such institution is not required; and that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Oolonial Secretary and the petitioners' respectively." Air Heaton said ha would movo as suggested by Mr Martin. Mr W. H, Beetham suggested that the system of relief should be moro local. If a Convalescent Home wero established in Wellington, the Wairarapa people would havo to contribute to its maintenance, but wonld have no control over the institution, Mr Heaton asserted that the Bonevolent Institution was in a moat unsatisfactory state-, and lie intended to rake up as many little things as he could, feeling that the expenditure should bo reduoed, showing too muoh relief should not be so general," The establishment of the Benevolent florae was, in his opinion, a very Wise stop, The motion was then put and carried;

Mr Buchanan suggested that tho I meetings of the United District Board should be held at times whioh would he convenient to members living in the Wairarapa. The Chairman promised to see what could bo done in the matter, and the meeting then terminated.-Post,