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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5559, 22 January 1879, Page 2

While the hon. and gallant Colonel Whitmore confines his antics to military matters, the people of the colony are not likely to take much notice of him, but there will be very great objection to his interference in concerns which he evidently does not understand, or understanding cruelly mismanages. Tomfoolery like that displayed at Christchurch in regard to possible invaders may be laughed off, but he will not so easily escape the consequence of his hard-hearted conduct in reference to those who should receive charitable aid in Wellington. Some time ago a letter was sent by the Colonial Secretary to the Wellington Benevolent Society requesting them to undertake the distribution of the Wellington portion of tho. charitable aid grant. The hon. secretary replied to the effect that the society could not accept the responsibility, the following being the reasons which induced the executive committee to come to that conclusion:—let. “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. Thatit would alter the character of the institution, and put its committee in the place of a relieving board, from which assistance could be demanded.” It was to have been supposed that the Colonial Secretary, if he wished to divest the police of an unpleasant duty, would have made some other arrangements; but no, he let the matter run on till the end of the year without taking any farther steps, when suddenly, without a word of warning, the allowance to these poor people was entirely cut off The police during the past fortnight have been hourly besieged by people absolutely clamoring for bread with which to sustain life; but the officers can give no assistance, unless out of their own pockets, which has more than oncebeen done; nor can they give any information as to where aid may be obtained. A rancorous opposition prevented the late Government from securing legislative action to meet this charitable aid difficulty, and the present Ministry have persistently and consistently neglected their duty to make provision;. and now the Colonial Secretary, because a body of citizens do not happen to fall | in with his views, drives to the point of starvation the unfortunate paupers of the city. At the present time we have nothing to say as to the propriety or impropriety of the action of the Benevolent Society; but it is simply inhuman that, in order to bring pressure to bear ou the society, a number of people who are unable to support themselves, and have been taught to look to the Government for support, should be left without food for weeks together.