CHARITABLE AID

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4655, 22 February 1894, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID

■Mr Hogg and the Premiet, The following correspondence has' passed between Mr Hogg, M.H.R., and tho Premier oti the al ovo subject : Masierlon, February 15th, 1894, Dear Sir,—As, I presume, the legislHtion proposed to be submitted during the approaching session is now receiving the consideration of the Cabinet, I would remind you of tho desirability of affnrdingParliamenl an opportunity of dealing with the question of Charitable Aid, Your knowledge of the view 9 of members and the opinions of tho constituencies renders it unnecessary for me to refer to the almost universal dissatisfaction that exists with the present poor law system in the Colony. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Act js admittedly a blot on the Statute Book, It is based, 1' submit, on a confession of members aud an assumption of heartlossness, which arc no compliment to the'eon> munity, It recognises pauperism as a normal product of tho Colony, and adds to the responsibilities of local bodies, tbo maintenance, not only of roads and bridges, but nf the unthrifty mid improvident outside of their districts. The Government and party, of which you are the leader, have done much to banish - poverty by placing the poor above absolute want, and a slight extension of these efforts, would, I. am confident, render the collection of ut poor rate and the distribution of alms, unnecessary,— The question, I know, is surrounded with difficulties, but without indicating further, tho direotion which, I consider remedial legislation should take, I now express the conviotion that the ereo'jon of local Bonevolent Institutions with their machinery and paraphernalia in a grave mistake, and that village settlements and state farmsßuould reduce destitution to such limits that private benevolence may safely be entrusted with the rost, II nothing else is done, I trust that, at least, the present Act will be bo amended' as to undo the great injustice from whioh this district Buffers through being united to Wellington and called upon to contribute to the support of the destitute in a distant centre of population. Hoping to receive your assurance that the Charitable Aid Act will be dealt with this session, ' I am, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, A. W. Hooq. Hon. R. Seddon, Premier's Office, * Wellington, 20th Feb., 1894. Sib,-I have the honor to aoknowledgo receipt of your letter of the 16th inst., calling the attention of the Government to the necessity for an i alteration in the law relating to : charitable aid. I hope that during i the present Parliament We shall be | able to deal with this somewhat intri 1 cate matter, Amendments arei very ' necessary as tho law now stands, < Thore are defects which must be recti- 1 fied. i I have, etc, ] K, J, Seddon. ( A, W. Hooo,Esq. j • "Li (