THE MINERS AND THE HOSPITAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 185, 21 March 1867, Page 3

THE MINERS AND THE HOSPITAL.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.) Sir— As an old' digger, I take upon myself the right to respond to a letter published this day in your paper, signed Edward Burton Fox, in -reference to the . support .of the Grey River Hospital. I have not the slightest doubt but that Mr E. -B. Fox's motiv"e ; is very good and humane, in' every 'sense of the word, and W/i will be, or ought to bs, appreciated by y -every man and Christian ; but I cannot see the drift of Mr Fox in stating that, unless some compulsory mode were suggested to induce", or rather to compel, the miners' to contribute towards it they, as a body, will find fifty^.excuses against ' subscribing towards the' support of the Hospital. Mr Editor, I have been on a few gold fields within, the last sixteen years, and always followed the occupation of a miner, and in no instance yet havo I seen a digger .refuse his mite towards theucause of humanity, whether for hospital or any other benevolent institution. Mr Fox's letter must be an outburst of injured feelings and disappointment, otherwise I cannot really account for his totally un-called-for abuse against the miners in " general. He likewise says he can see men, meaning miners, in a 4 beastly state of drunkenness, who pretend they cannot give a shilling towards the hospital. Mr Fox, being an old miner and a storekeeper, should keep in view tilts fact, especially where he has lately, been — that the exorbitant prices of food, which barely suffices to keep body and soul together, and their isolation from all society. and amusement, should alone prevent Mr Fox from being so severe in inflicting the lash of reproach on a body or community of men, from ■whom he has been a recipient of all their earnings as long as he has boen a storekeeper. Fearing I may encroach too much on your valuable time and space. " lam, &c, . , 7 An Old Miner.