KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND.

Kumara Times, Issue 788, 9 April 1879, Page 2

KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND.

[to the editor.]

Sir—l see by your issue of last night that the people of Dill man's Town propose to get up an entertainment in the shape of a lecture, to be delivered by aMr Win. Morris. With all due respect to that gentleman, I think that we, as a community have done our part towards the relief of the sufferers. " Charity begins at home," and therefore I would recommend that the Dillman's people would rather request the gentleman to give the lecture on behalf of some local charity, us • I believe the subscriptions raised have already amounted to some £IOO and odd per head.

Assistance is charity, but complete support is entirely a burden on communities, which in many cases can ill afford it, and therefore is not charity, but folly. It must noi be supposed that I censure the movement; only, in the present state of affairs here and considering the amount already subscribed by this district, it appears to me as rather too much, i.e., the response to subscription lists have been as much as could be expected. Would it not be better to draw public sympathy in the ditection of some local charity, say the Ladies Benevolent Society, upon which thei'e are many calls for assistance, and the support to which has been rather weak during the last twelve months 1 The people of this town would, I think, co-operate with those of Dillman's, by endeavouring to make the affiir a grand success.—£ am, <fec,

Charity.

Kumara, April 8, 1879. [We commend our correspondent's letter to the attention of the Ladies Benevolent Society, as the Kaitangata Relief Fund being now closed in this district, there is little doubt the celebrated elocutionist referred to would only too gladly respond, if interviewed, on behalf ot a society whose charitable ministrations are effected solely through the agency of the gentler sex.—Ed. K. T.]