, 1873-03-05

F'O'AOO v 1AO SlOdbOi pdlH Va AhFdlNu aDO0AOiS
If a tendency had really existed 70 throw that
burden on the Public and it would ultimately
be the same case under the lastmentioned in
depreciation, for if it were once established that
the Estates we're without any sort of limit COM
PEELED to provide for every invalid, they would
OF course beforehand take care 10 get rid of a
labourer commencing to shew signs Of inirmity,
and no one else would be willing to take such a
labourer. The Government has therefore
been exceedingly careful in applying this
Interpretation, if it can be said to be coun-
tenanoed at all BY the Government; and
as it was in the interest of all parties,
the public, the taxpayers and estate-pro-
prietors-tbat the question should not be urged
to the extreme, the Police masters have always
tried and ia most cases they have with good
will on both parties succeeded. in having cases
involving that question mutually settled in an
equitable and satisfactory manner; and in this
respect the concluding clause that the invalids
shall be attended to by their next relations has
been of much benett.-Sometimes the public
Pauper Institution has stepped forward and
given some peeuniary assistance also in those
cases where the invalid had remained on the
estate. 1t is only OF late lin 1869 that a case
Involving that question has been brought be-
fore the Courts under a private suit instituted
by an invalid himself, and there the Upper
Court'admitted the Iastmentioned Interpretation,
In support of which, however, reference is made
to the prevailing practice in that respect, but
which can not exactly be said to have a de-
cidcd tendency in that direotion,-nnd also TO
the fact that assistance from the Poorfund is
as a rulo only given to individuals residing in
town. The High Court has since lin 1870
confirmed that view. 1t was to be foreseen
that the estate propriotors would in future be
very particular that no labourer remained so
long on the Estate that he became an invalid,
aud it is nc. doubt this consideration, one which
concerns the Public equally as much as the in
vaIids themselves, that has caused the Admin
i|stration not to interest itself to that
extent in the matter, as to interfere against
the pcoprietors.
The matter must therefore be decided in the
new Labour-R Regulations and we have propos-
ed it SO adjusted that the provision in the Re-
|gulations of l849 be made applicable in refer
ence to those individuals, that at the time of
the emanatlon of the new Regulations already
are Invalids but 10 reference to those that
might subsequently become Invalids, the bur-
den of their support shall be borne by the Public
and the respective Estate in part.
By making the one sort of support condition
al of the other, leaving 1t to the Poor-CommIs-
sions whether the party really is invalid or not,
the recurrence of disputes, sometimes of an
odious character, in reference to this question,
will be avoided.
In regard to the exception made for the case
of Immigrants we would merely call to mind,
that sometimes Immigrants are employed on
without the knowledge or cooperation
Of the Immigration-C Committee, and therefore
any guarantee Of the working c~apabili-
of health of the labourers, no doubt even
after the Committee had rejected them but
in cases where immigrants have been &C.
cepted by that Authority and in view of the
eagerness with which immigrants are here
sought after, as also in view of the harm likely
to result to immigration on the whole, if too
many Of the individuals presented as immi-
g. ants we're to be refused, it is necessary at
times to be a little lenient in deciding what
immigrants are to be admitted, or MOTT has
been found necessary to lay the whole burden
Of support to immigrants proving unfit for work
and infrm, on the parties that engaged them.
That the right of maintenance from the Public
IAN only be gained after 5 years time is in &C.
with the general rule in the Regnla-
ions of 1925 concerning the Pauper Establish
rent in these Islands.