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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2224, 23 June 1908, Page 1

RELIEF OF THE POOR. THE ELBERFELD SYSTEM. WHAT IT IS ? j During the course of tho conference of delegates from the various iHospri tal Hoards, the Inspector-General of Hospitals (Ur. Valintine) made reference to’the 151 her fold system, which he considered would he easily adaptable to conditions in New Zealand. The following is a description, details of which have been obtained from Dr Valintine of the system which has been in existence in the majority of the German States since 1870. Tho vital principle embodied in the system is the “recognition of an Inherent right in citizenship,” and with this principle once allowed, every individual who lias had tho misfortune to fn.ll on evil times, and thereby becomes destitute, is entitled by such citizenship to relief. And this relief is not given or received ns a charity, but as a right—a right that does not necessarily entail discredit or any obligation except tho pecuniary debt incurred. In 'effect, the law provides relief lor tho unfortunate, not as « gift, but as a loan, which, if circumstances allow, tho recipient is morally bound to rcjvuy. Another principle of the system is the simplicity with which rolief can bo obtained. It is not necessary for an applicant to wait on a board at any particular hour of a certain day. Relief can or should be obtainable at any hour, in almost any street of the larger .towns, or -in- the country districts.' At least, the system is so worked in Germanv.

This relief is provided through the vgency of local and district unions. The former or orlsarnienverbando exist in towns with independent municipal government; the latter ,the huidarmenverbande in the country districts. under either local or district hoards, the cities or country districts, as the case may :bo, are divided into sub-districts under tho control of a committee, .who report to a central hoard ; the local committees appoint a certain •number of visitors, or armenpfleger, for each sub-distript. 'Liability for service in the arinenpflcger is one of tho most sacred duties of German citizenship. The position is a most honorable one, and is never liven to those who do not stand high in the public estimation. In. the towns there is one of these inspectors for about every (00 to 500 of the inhabitants. It is hi s duty to make lumself acquainted with all the circumstances of applicants for charitable relief in his precinct or subdistrict, and to relieve at oboe and duly -report to the district hoard, which confirms his recommendations or otherwise, after further enquiries have been made.

'For the convenience of the ■destitute, each municipal government publishes a “Handbook,” so that the visitor, or armenpfleger, of the district in which relief is demanded, can he found at once. This handbook also contains the rules, etc.,'under which assistance can beiclaimed',' and a list of the hospitals and charitable institutions to which- the poor can he referred; hut it is another of the cardinal principles of the JSlberfeld system to relieve the poor at their own homos, so as to avoid, as far as possible, the breaking up of families. Tho funds of this wonderful and farreaching system are derived from local taxation, consequently the laws of “settlement” are carefully guarded, and the'applicants transferred to their own districts, which are charge-, ible for any expenses incurred. The result of this system has been most reassuring. In ' the city of Frankfort alone the charitable aid rate has been reduced from 2s id per head of the population in 3383, to Is l.ld in 1891. In New Zealand the rate is 2s 3Jd per head. This, however, does not by any means represent the total expenditure on charitable aid in New Zealand, hut merely the cost to the Government of the institutions under tho Act. In addition ,about a quarter of a million is spent on old ago pensions, and there are also many private charitable institutions which are aided by the State and supported by public and private contributions.' Such, briefly, i s an account of the. s'stemj and it mjkvjie as well Lo consider how it may beiipplied in the coihitry. In the district -hoards we-, have the central hoard, with its power to obtain funds from the contributing local bodies. If the suggestion of the recent conference with regard to communities becomes law, each hoard will he able to appoint committees for institutional a ltd charitable aid work, hut not necessarily of its own members. Now, there is an increasing number of people in the Dominion who go to form what is called a. “leisured class.” To some members of this class the opportunity to do some work of a philanthropic nature would he a real godsend. In every district the hoards would liiul suitable men to carry out the work of tho ainienplleger. and, as in Germany, tho position should be looked upon as a most honorable one. The large towns would ho divided into, say, as many as fifty or sixty precincts, with one visitor, or ariuenpfleger, for, at the most, every 1000 inhabitants. These should be empowered to relieve, after due enquiry, straight away, and report to the Charitable Aidßoard. In an article such as this there is no time to go- into the question with the exactitude and degree of detail that characterises all forms of German administration, but there is something in tho system that will commend itself to thoughtful readers, especially when they remember that the right' to demand relief is a privilege of citizenship, entailing no disgrace, as relief is demanded in tho nature of a loan, rather than as a gift, and as such, entailing'no discredit to the recipient. Tn fact, the recipient lias to provo that bv being set- on his legs again by such loan lie has been enabled to null himself together and lead a more useful life —pnd that his sense of selfreliance has been stimulated. Hut if • he fails to repay the loan—-either by an altered life or by actual repayment of money lent—then, and not till then, does the discredit fall on him, and lie is therefore branded an irreclaimable vagi' int.

The boy stood on the seiioolhousc step When tlie master opened the door. “Hello!” said the master, “You’re first at last! You were always behind before!” “I’m early because,” replied the lad, “I’ve taken the liealth-renewer To cure the cough that was so bad— It’s "Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.”

Of :■ 11 true tilings hone is more certain- than that Stearns’ Headache Cure invariably cures headaches. It is tasteless, easy to take, and every one -should keep it in hand.