ABUSES OF CHARITY.

Patea Mail, 4 October 1882, Page 4

ABUSES OF CHARITY.

It would appear that there are some decidedly queer characters on the list of recipients of relief-f'oni the Wellington Benevolent Institution. One elderly who receives 7s a week, was discovered by Mr Johnson, the Believing. Officer, in an hotel the other day, in rhe act of purchasing a bottle of English beer and a’ shilling’s worth of brandy. It was decided to stop her cash allowance and supply her with rations. Mr Johnson also mentioned the case of another woman who was in receipt of, rations and Is 6d per week in cash. This old dame, he said, was in the street in such an advanced state of intoxication that she could not “steer herself,” ■ and he was compelled to help her across the road. She then became more helpless and fell down. It was decided that the cash allowance of eighteenpence should be stopped. One member of the Committee suggested that the woman would not be able to get ! drunk on Is 6d, but Mr Johnson showed his superior wisdom by remarking, that “ eighteenpen’nrth of forty-rod whiskey would knock a bullock down.” Another person whose necessities the Committee are relieving was the subject of discussion, and was referred to as “ the man who knocked over the City Missionary.”— N.Z... Mail.