THE WELLINGTON BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5525, 11 December 1878, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

A meeting of the committee of the Benevolent institution was held yesterday. Present— The Bishop of Wellington (in the chair), Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. W. H. West, Rev. J. Harrington, Rev. A. Reid, Messrs. L. Levy, J. E. Smith, D. Lewis, J. G. Holdsworth, H. 0. Wilson, and the secretary. The following subscriptions were received: —£s, C. Campbell, art union; £5, F. T.; £2, W. Best; £lO 10s., J. Bume ; £2 25., Bishop of Wellington ; £1 Is., G. Thomas; and 55., forfeit.

Several cases of distress were considered and reljeved. A letter was read from , the Government stating that after January Ist they would cease to distribute charitable aid through the police. The amount now distributed throngh_ the police is :—ln rations, at rate of £l4l per annum ; in money payments, at rate of £539 10s. per annum ; total, £633105. per annum. The committee have, as already noticed, declined to take over the distribution of all charitable aid, for the following reasons ; —lst, That the amount of work involved thereby would require constant supervision, and considerable expenditure in salary of a relieving officer, office, &c. 2nd, That a class of cases will have to be relieved such as this institution has hitherto left to the police, they being better informed, and better able to deal with them. 3rd, That it would alter the character of the institution, and put itsoommitteein the place of a relieving board, from which assistance could bo demanded.

The following is the correspondence which has taken place between the society and the Government: — “ Colonial Secretary's Office, “ Wellington, November 4, 1878. “Sir,—The Financial Arrangements Act, 1878, just passed, provides for the relief of persons requiring charitable aid, on a liberal scale of subsidy. The relief of destitution in Wellington has hitherto been partially carried out by the local committee, subsidised by the Government; but a great deal has been dona by the police. This the Colonial Secretary trusts your society will now undertake, and include in the general relief of destitution in this city on the principle laid down in the Act. “ The head of the police has been directed to afford your society every information in his power, in order to facilitate the change.—l have, &c., “G. S. Coomb. “ The Chairman of the Benevolent Institution, Wellington."

“.Wellington, November 28,1878, “Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, with reference to the general relief of destitution in this city, I am directed to state that the matter has been brought before the committee already on two previous occasions; that the committee has very carefully considered the question of administering all charitable aid in the city, and has decided that it cannot undertake responsibilities beyond those with which it is already entrusted.—l am, &c,, “Chaeles P. Bowles, “ Secretary Wellington Benevolent Institution. “G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under-Secretary." “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “Wellington, Decembers, 1878. “ Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, and in reply am directed by the Colonial Secretary to express his regret that the committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution has decided not to undertake, responsibilities beyond those whieh it is already entrusted In the matter \of relief of destitution.

“Oolonsl Whitmora at the same time desires me to inform you that the Government regret that they will be obliged to adhere to their decision that the distribution of relief by the police shall cease from the Ist January next.—l have, &0..

“G. S. Cooier. “0. P. Powles, Secretary to "Wellington Benevolent Institution.”