THE POOR LAW IN NEW ZEALAND. UNKNOWN

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2085, 17 November 1885, Page 3

THE POOR LAW IN NEW ZEALAND. UNKNOWN

Sill,—The Ho^pit.ils and Chaiitable In "titutions \ct of the last session of l'ailninent has introduced a Pom Law m New Zealand. Those who aie acquainted with the evil effects of the Pooi Liw m Lngland, see much to legiet m the tact. For many Aeai-. the English Poor Law was frightfully abused by tho loafing and idle paitofthe population. Ono hundied and twenty yeais ago, when the population of that country w.is not one thud of what it is at present, the Poor Rates in some of the rural parishes amounted to ten shillings in the pound. This state of things continued until the passing of tho Reform Act of 1832. The persona who granted relief to the poor in rural districts vveio cmintij gentlemen assembled in petty se-sum-They were the owneis of the Imd which was so guevonsly burdened by the-e oppiesMvo lates, and jet they vveie poweiless to keep them down. If my memory sei yes me aright, I think the Poor Rates in some parishes had lisen as high as twenty shillings in the pound befoie 1832. Veiy soon after the piosent Poor Law come into operation, the lates in these over-buidened parishes* fell to a mere fraction of what they had formerly been. The provision of of the Poor Law which chiefly contributed to this result; was, that no able bodied pauper of either sex .should receive outdoor relief, and the moie stiingently that regulation is followed the better it alway.s pioves both for paupers and ratepayers. On this subject there is no difference of opinion amongst those who have had long experience of the working of the English Poor Law. The most benevolent and the most economical are agreed on that point. (> reat however has havo been tho improvementsv cments m Poor Law administration in EnglanJ during the last fifty years, its evil effects are still very 'deplorable. It undermines all thrift amongst the majoiity of the pom. It diminishes that kindly family feeling which ought to lead near relatives to Hiiccour each other in time of need. Notwithstanding the stnngest adininistntion of the English Poor Law, there are pmper families who have been paupers for generations, and seem to be incurable. The slightest attack of illness brings them to the Board of Guardians at once, and the\ nio always inventing excuses for applying for relief. I have often looked at these people prevaricating over an unsatisfactoi y talc under tho pitiless cros^-examination of the board, and wondered how they could face it, but pauperism soon extinguishes all sense of shame. The introduction of the Poor Law into the Highlands of Scotland is of comparatively recent date, but I have frequently heard and read that it has had a very marked effect in de. tcriorating the character of the people. The Poor Law of iMew Zealand is jin attempt to combine charitable aid w ith a system of ratepaying. If any combination of persons can be induced to subsenbe £100 per annum for charitable purposes, they can be incorporated as an institution. A hundied pounds will not go far in supporting » charitable institution, so the trustees in connection with it are directed by the 59th section of the Act as follows:—".")'). The trustees shall on their first coming into office, and thereafter before the last day of March in each year, ascertain the estimated gross cost of the maintenance of the institutions vested in them, together with the estimated income from all sources of such institution for tho next twelve months following and shall transmit such estimates to the District Board, together with a requisition to such board, for a contribution from the Hospital and Charitable Aid Fund of the district, to the amount of the difference between the estimated gio^s cost of maintenance and the estimated revenue, and the district board shall make contiibutions out of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Fund to the separate institutions according to their requisitions." This is an extraordmaiy piece of legihlation. A few benevolent cranks who choose to raise a hundred pounds per annum might fleece tho country out of thousands for utteily worthless purposes. The power given by this section is certain to be abused by nearly ■\\l if not all the incorporated institutions, and the results to tho pockets of the ratepayers and the morals of the people will almost ceitainly bo disastrous. The District Board may appeal against the requisitions of the institutions, and the appeal w ill be heard by two commissions s and a Resident Magistrate, and their decision will be final. The ratepayers are. to luv c nothing to say in the matter. That the subscribers to a few charitable institutions should distiibute their favours without check or hinderance, and be able to c ill upon all ratepayers to make good then monetary deficiencies, is a very singular anomaly in what is said to be the most democratic country in the world. The Dis tiict Boards are politely informed that their business is to find money for the institutions and that it will not be necessary for them to meet more than twice a year in order to receive the requisitions of active benevolence in money matters. In one of the circulars issued to facilitate tho proper interpretation of this Act is the following paragraph :—"The term "institution," as used in the Act, is not to bo understood as meaning f imply a hospital, asylum, ntph.inngo, or other public building established for any of the purposes specihed in the act. It rather means tho body or association of persons constituted for the management and maintenance of such establishments, or for the administration of charitable aid, even though it does not possess or make use of any house or other building." Here is deliberate invitation to whomsoever lists to start a society for the distribution of outdoor relief. Some society of benevolent old ladies will soon be taking advantage of it, and flooding tho cointiy with paujiers. Was there ever such a pince of suicidal legislation ? The^e unions aie too large for any efficient minagement. The cost of travelling will pi event the attendance of district trustees even if they were wanted, and certainly neither tho distiict trustees nor their constituents will ever consent that their n.oney should be expended in Auckland without some satisfactory supervision on their part. Auckland id said to be lich. The farming paits of the oountry arc poor, unmwtakoablv poor. Why does not AuckImd support her own p.uipers ? This mixture of ratepaying and benevolence will never do. Tho two things are utterly incompatible. The ratepaying will quickly destroy tho benevolence. Or it may be kept alive to tho extent of the miserable hundied pounds which will enable the Ixiiievolent to 10b the ratepayers. All that is leqiined in a new countiy liko this ought to be i.used by beiievolencn. Public attention only lequires to be called to tho necessitiouh cases that claim our pity, and the relief would be forthcoming. At all events it would be bettei tf) send lound the hat before sending the tuvgatheier. Let us try if this difficulty cannot bo remedied by benevolence, and save oui selves from the curso and disgiacoof this crude and unwoikiblo Poor Law. Immigrants without relatives or friends in the colony, who are disabled by sickness or other misfortune from suppoiting themselves, are undoubtedly fit objects for our sympathy, and call for ch.iiitable aid, but certainly a little organisation could collect all tho aid that is required without having recourse to an odious poor rate. If people could bo found who would take the trouble of working an organisation of tins doscijption, I have no doubt but all tho funds that aro required would readily bo found. Country people would respond to a call on their benevolence, but they will never willinging pay rates without a far more satisfactory supervision of the expenditure than this act affords. I have been told that there aro employers of female labour in Auckland whose employes can o.irn no more than five shillings by a week's hard work, If thero be suoh rascally practice™ of the niuch'bolaudcd doctrino of political economy, " buy in the cheapest lnai ket, and sell in the dearest," I say, hang the doctrine, and hang the men who practice it. Country ratepayers will strongly object to pay rates for town pauperism whilst such practices exist. In country districts at least there should be vigorous agitation until this act is gieatly modified, or conhignnd to the limbo, from which it should nevei have ansen. —I am, Ac , Jos. J. Baul'oh.

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