CHARITABLE AID.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4513, 2 September 1893, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID.

Mr Hogg, MM, Speaks Out I By Telegraph,] (From Our Own Correspondent)

Wellington, Saturday, In tho course of a lively discussion in the House yesterday afternoon, on the subject of the management of Lunatic Asjlunis, Mr Hogg em< phaiically denounced thn Hospital and Charitable Aid Act as a wretched failure and cruel infliction on the peoplo who should bo assisted, and cctoppressed, viz i-thrTcoiintry set tiers, He declared that the act of which Sir Robert Stout was the author, instead of improving the social condition of the people, hat! been a prolific cause of wife and family desertion. It discouraged thrift and providential habits; fostered crime and imposture j and offered a premium to dissipation aud depravity. Under its provisions, tho worst members of society were able to cast the burden of tlieii family responsibility on tbe shoulders of unfortunate settlors, who, with bad roads and heavy rents. and rates, could badly a rford the crushing effect of aj poor rate. For years tho sellers of i Masterton and Wairarapa had been blackmailed to the tune of between L 2.000 and L 3.000 per annum. The country settlers cheerfully i provided for their own destitute, but they objected to. have their pockets picked for tho benefit of the Wellington Benevolent Society, Ho held that £1,200 n year for an Inspector of Hospitals and Asylums was more than the Colony 'could afford, and that the amount squandered on sanities in the institutions was out of all proportion to the total cost. The sum of £150,000 a year expended for charitable aid, contrasted scandalously with the miser* able expenditure on roads and bridges. The Minister replied briefly that, he feared no remedy could be' applied this session, but ho promised that the question would have serious consideration,