A NOBLE WORK.

Evening Star, Issue 14932, 19 July 1912, Page 2

A NOBLE WORK.

MEN'S MISSION HOUSE. MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS. The annual mating of subscribers to the Men's Mission House was' held in tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon. While not so numerously attended as in previous years, it was a representative, one, workers in other philanthropic societies being present. Canon Curzon-Siggeis (chairman of tho committee) presided. The Chairman .said that it gave him the greatest pleasure to express, on behalf of the committee and, lie felt euro, on behalf of the community,,the high appreciation of the work of "Mr Vincent King, their zealous and energetic chaplain. Tlie value of the work done might be gauged by the fact that so many who were unable to help themselves had been put in the way of helping themselves, not only, in some cases, to recover their dignity as good workers, but also in some cases to save enough to send to England for their j families, who were an asset to the workers, j Again, some or those he.pcd had given an i ottering to their funds, out of gratitude j for benefits received. What was wanted j in nearly every case was. '"a- friend, not alms," and in their chaplain such a friend was found to many a friendless pen-on. It might bo said that the aim oi their work was to help the helpless to become self-helpers. They felt that though much work of this kind" had been done, yot tho problem of tho helpless, the unemployed, the thriftless, and lazy would neve*' be satisfactorily solved until the Dominion established art industrial faim colony, where these persons could be sent to work. and to leam to recover a taste for work. It was worse than useless to releve such persons by almsgiving. They only Lecama more confirmed beggars, and more and more unfit for labor. Such a colony would be run on lines which would mean "no labor, no food," whilst to the man who showed an inclination to work certain what he might call extras would be given. Much of their relief funds now distributed by the State would be saved, as after the cost of each person had been deducted from the value of his toil tho balance would, be applied to the support of such dependents as ho had, or, in cases of no dependents, then to starting him in some useful labor when he had recovered the power and desire to work. This would apply to tome women, of course, but their number was comparatively few. Experience showed that the Dominion wanted, also, two other institution?, and then all their problems of distress and want would be solved—namely, a home of observation and detention for mental defectives of adult age, and a home for detention and reformation of girls gone astray. He added that in reference to this second institution, as showing its need, he had received that day a carefully-compiled list showing over 30 such women who had children (illegitimate) of from two to seven here in Dunedin, and was going to send the list to the Minister. All these children were supported by the State, and more would follow from tho same source unless a reformatory were provided for these. The committee felt strongly, with the chaplain, that a great many "people, by their indiscriminate chanty, only increased the army of paupers of the'worst type. It would be far better if the charitably disposed would either take the person's case up and be. a friend to the needy one, and help that one to recover his or her usefulness as a worker, or to give what they wished through some such institution as their Men's Mission House. It so often happened that whsri Mr King had been dealin" with a case, and getting a man into a "frame of mind to work, that giving money bv an outsider had sent that man back "into the ranks of the beggars. In America thev worked their relief more systematically. Tn some large places they had a central office, to which all charitable societies reported the name and particulars of the applicant for relief and the help given. This prevented overlapping and all blackmailing, ar.d the creation of a pauper class who lived by deluding the chaiitably disposed. Some such was much needed in the Dominion, and, indeed, in England. In the. meantime, their societies did communicate with one another in a small way, but a central office was urgently needed. Tncy needed a further sum than that wh.cn thev had revived so generously uom tnc.r friends during the year past, no i.aa no doubt that all who so videeu t:v? wort-: of Mr Ring would me to imp occaxo.-i. He moved the adoption of t:;c annual report of the committee. Mr G. U. Ritchie, in seconding the motion, said he would like to endorse all the chairman had said with regard to the good work carried on bv the chaplain. J urging by the attendance at the meeting, it mfcht he thought that very litllo interes, was taken in the Men's Mission House, but he knew that considerably more interest was taken than tho attendance mhdit lead ono to believe, as y;nen t.ny went round for subscriptions or donation, they never had to ask twice and aU</i once contributing some invanaoly sent, in their subscription regularly, so were they with the work being done. Il.e work was quite undenominational. Uuu regard to the coming year they had something like £207 promised, and a rough ~. limato of tho expenditure was n £250. so that required anotner £,W or in the wav of contributions. tie not. think he was being too sanguine w ; .en he said that they would get an tins w-.n----out difficulty, and so the noble, good m,a could be carried on. Mr B. Brent and Mr V,. 1. Tnlbo.s also spoke, the latter remarking that trie Men's Mission House and the Charitable Aid Board might become a mutual ne.p society, and thus prevent overlapping. Mr A. Washer presented tho finance statement. He said that they commenced the vear with a credit balance of M os ICd "and at the present time had a creciu of £7 10s—a olightly belter position tjian last year. They had had more receipts and more expenditure. Sundry donations amounted to £279. The stipend was £o.> I Tho balance-sheet was for lo monfns, and rlthouyh more satisfactory than last \e«i, it would be necessary to raise more money to carry on. Then, in connection with the men's house, it would be almost■ necessary to look for new premises betore th. end of the year, as the building was a very old one. , Mr A F. Finch remarked that the amount they were able to pay their chaplain was reallv a disgrace to them the, were very fortunate indeed to have a rrentleman of such ability to do the won;, and he hoped they would be able to augment the sum. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Giirmr|ir of (h j, p a ticnts and Prisoners' Aid Society, said he would luce to express his appreciation of the work carried on by Mr King. No one knew the value of his work better than those alongside him. Mr King deserved the very best sympathy that the citizens of Dunedin could give him. Dunedin was fortunate in the respect that_ societies of their nature were thoroughly m sympathy with each other's work. He hoped that next year would be the brightest and j one of" the best ever experienced. I The Chaplain said that at present there were a" number of men in Dunedin who were making several pounds a. week on the strength of fictitious tales. Thev were, to use the term of a magistrate, absolute wasters, and it was doincr them untold harm. With regard to indiscriminate giving, he might mention that he had had one man who, after months' watching, was getting on very well, but some kind person had given him monev, which had been the moans of sen dinar him on the downward path again. He would j like to record his apprc-iaHon of the j work of Mr Kent at the Mission Fou'e. i He was his right-hand man, and did splendid work. He thanked the multitude of kind friends for their interest in his work, and his best thanks were due to the committee, who had devoted so much time towards relieving him of the financial strain.