THE OLD MEN'S HOME.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 6, 6 May 1893, Page 12

THE OLD MEN'S HOME.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —With reference to the Old Men’s Home, the public condemn, almost to a man, the recent rise in the salaries of the Secretary and Master. It is generally thought they were very well paid for the very light duties they have to perform before the increased salaries were given. The management of a number of aged and infirm people is surely not a matter that requires such great and vigorous talent. The conduct of Messrs Baldey and Ferguson on the Charitable Aid Board meets with the approval of the ratepayers, who are certainly entitled to some consideration on the question of increasing expenditure. It would appear that the management of charitable institutions demands searching enquiry in more places than Invercargill, and therefore the sooner the better for all concerned. The intention of the Act was to aid the aged and infirm and assist the deserving poor, and not to create a number of rosy little billets. The consistent conduct of Mr Boche as a member of the Board stands out strongly. He supported an increase of payment to the already well paid officials at the Home. If my memory serves me well, not long since he objected to any increase in the wages of the street maintenance labourers, who it was well known were at one time sweated to some purpose at forty pence per day, for eight hours hard labour.—-Yours, etc., Economist.