UNITED DISTRICT CHARIT ABLE AID BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4375, 22 March 1893, Page 3

UNITED DISTRICT CHARIT ABLE AID BOARD.

A meeting of iho ahovc Board was held yesterday morning, iliuso pres lit being ilic Chairman (Mr J. Lancaster), Messrs-W. 0, Buchanan, G. Dectbam, J, Petlwick, F, H. Fraser, W. Beetham, J. H. Heaton, L. L. Harris, and 11. J. While. ■ Mr Buchanan siid tho meeting was culled for 12 45, and it did not take place till ono o'clock, yet throo Wairarapa members had had to come down from a diatanca after a rery early breakfast, and wore expected to spend their lunciieoo time in discusaiDg important business, lie moved that tho meeting bo adjourned till 4,30 p.m. Tliey wore- called to come hoi'O and pass important matters in n quarter of an hour, Tho Cliairmaii said this had b( en the lime of meeting for Seven years. After discussion, it wis resolved that I'uturo meetings bu called for 12 o'clock, The Chairman moved Hint the following estimate of expenditme for 1893-4 be adopted,'—Wellington Benevolent Society, £57(<5; Wairarapa North Society,' £500; St, Mary's Orphanage, £350; St, Joseph's Orphauago, £011; Biirnlium School, £450; Cavenliam Subool, £97; Hint County, £225; Horowbenua County, £100; Pahiatua County, £150; WaiI rarapa South County, £SO ; Borough 'of ftlelrose, £SO; BorpughofPetone, £150; Borotu;l] of Onslow, £SO; Borough of Karori, £54; Borough of Lower Hutt, £150; Borough of Carterton, £80; Borough of Greytown, £4O; Borough of Pabiatus, £SO; Education Department, £IG; cmiingencies, £100; liabilities over assets, £95. Sum required, £BI3B. Mr Buchanan moved that tho sum apportioned to the Wellington Benevolent Society ho reduced to £SOOO. Hu considered the amount devoted to it altogether out of proportion, He had asked Mr Van Staveren whether he had stated that the greater number of applicants for relief camo from the Wairarapa. Mr Van Staveren did not dooy tho statement, but instanced a case in which a woman with six children whoso husband had beon unable to obtain work in the Wairarapa was being allowed Bsa week—little enough -but he found that no enquiry had been mado as to the Wairarapa portion of the story. Yet they found the Wairarapa counties called upon to pay over £I2OO besides the Government subsidies, although the oxpendituro on chariiahlo aid in the South Wairarapa wa,- only £SO. Of course, where pe.iplo wero starving they must bo given food; but the opinion was gaining ground that pauperism was being encouraged in Wellington by indiscriminate and lavish expenditure. It gavo him great pain to say this, because lie bolioved those in whoßo bands tho matter was, in. Wellington, acted from the very best intentions. In the old dayß the Wairaiapa provided for its own needs ; now wo had an outrageous Act on the Statute Book, and its ndmiuistration had dried up private charity. The wholo Bystem was wrong.. The ex penditure on Charitable Aid in the Wairarapa was 9d per bead of population, and in Wellington 3s Bd. The contributions levied wore 8s 2d per head in the Wairarapa and 2s Id in Wellington.

The following were the npportionmeDts lo the various districts; -Wellington City Council, £1982 10a 4d j Hutt County Council, £B4B 7a 4d; Horowhcnua County Council, £290 4a 4d; Borough of Melrose, £GB o*3 8d; liorotigh of Petone, £OO 18a 4d; Borough of Onslow, £4B 18s 8d; Borough of Lower Hull,'£B2 fls 8(1; Borough of Karori, £lO 2s 8d; Wairarapa North County Council, £6lB 18s 4d; Wairarapa South County Council, £632 12s 8d; Pahiatua CountvCouncii, £J52lOs 2d; Borough ofMastfltton,' £l3O IS-i 4d'; Borough of Qarlertqn, £3O lis 8a j Borough of Greytown, £8(1 os4d; Borough of Pahiatua, £2O 5s 8d; total, C45(<6. The Chairman said the Benevolent Trustees made every effort to ascertain the genuinness of the cases they relieved, and were now appointing a permanent secretary to make still mote particular enquiries, to prevent their being imposed upon- Any reduction in the amount would make

the cum inadequate, Mr Harris supported Mr.Buchanan. Tho year 1888'9 was ono of great dfotresß after a great cpmuiercial crisis in Wellington, yet the amount asked now was nearly double that needed then, Had the population doubled ? Had poverty doubled ? The fact was that tho Wellington' Benevolent Society had got tho name throughout Australasia of boing the most liberal society in the world, and peoplacamo to Wellington and went to the pociety directly they set foot on the wharf. The fact was the society mistook its functions, which wore to relieve distress, and not to provido people with coals and houses, and maintain them, Mr George Beethnm said he could not support Mr Buohanan'.s amendment. What'behad seen as ono of the Trustees convinced him of the necessity. He thought there had been laxity ju tho past, but they had now

a permanent Secretary, and would takoovery care in tho future. He was not surprised at the country districts orying out, as : lho present system of taxation for charitablo aid was iniquitous, Why the country districts should bo taxed aa they are on real property, and personal property allowed to go free, passed his comprehension. Hn would soppott a reduction by £IOO as a protest against the prosent system. Mr Petberick beliovo'l tliero could be a substantial rcducion, and would therefore support the amendment. Thero were not so many pour people in Wellington to-day as two years ago, notwithstanding that tho expenditure had doubled, Many icceiving roliof to-day w-n< not deserving. Tho Chairman: Can you name any? Mr Pethcrick said ho could, hut not ai Ibis meeting. Many people spend the amounts thoy get from the Benevolent Society in tho ptibliebouse3 on Sundays and Saturdays. Mr Fras"r: Shame. The Chairman said that if these facts were known to Mr Potherick ho was guilty of wasting tho ratepayer* money by neglecting to inform the Secretary of them. Ho should call the. Secretary's attention to any ensu that he was aware of. • j Mr Fraser said that thoj had made a considerable effort to keep away the I loafers. He couldn't support iho amendment. Mr Htwton support- d tho aniendmi>nt, The money wasgiven away too lavishly. The Chairman .aid the ma'ters; objected tu by .Mr Buchanan w. re the fault, of tl.o law, and not of the Bcne» volent Society, and Parliament should bo iipproiicln'd to alter the law. Mr Buchanan said he strongly oh jeeted to relief b-iug given witbo'it local enquiry, Local enquiry was tho very essence of the mailer, mid «6 it ntood at present tin-re w.is ui:my c.si's of real distress in which the self respect of the people prevented them approaching the Society while unworthy cases were dealt with, Ho recognised that tho Society had a very unpleasant duty, and Iho Tins te 's were deserving of tho thanks of ilte community for tlu-ir work, but what he objected to \v»s ihu lack of local enquiry. They wero told that the hulk of these ctses came from the Wsirarapi, aul yvt ho, r,s chairman of a WoirarapH county, had never heard of ut single enquiry hein;' made as to the truth or otherwise of the statements made by applicants for relief, The Chairman said there was a general feeling throughout tho colonies that Wellington was very prospor* ons. The result was that men coming from all over the colonies came here, having paid there passage money by selling their things. The man on arrival went up country to look for work, and if he didn't get it his wifo and family were left here starving, andthe Board was compelled to assist.

The amendment was carried, Messrs Buchanan, Harris, Henton, Peilierick and White, votirg for it, and the Chairman and Messrs W. and G. Beethain and Eraser against.—Post.