WAIRARAPA BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2348, 16 July 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The adjourned, monthly meeting, of tie Sopiety wa» held in the Library yesterday. Present—Revs. W, E. Puige (chairman), D. Fulton, and Messrs Euitli, Gapperaud Msredith, ■ '•:•,- , The -Treasurer reported a credit balance of £6019» lid. Accounts amounting .to £397s 7d were passed fur payment. Tho Secretary'b roport was road. .-'■'• In the case of one man who had refused the job of stone-breaking, Mr Gapper thought they - should put their foot down upon such case* and if applicants for relief ret'usod work when it was oflered and loafed about the streets with their hands in their pockets and a pipe in their nuuths, instead of working to support their wives and families it was more a case for the police than the society, to take up. •, The case of a man over 60 who had had ],6i 9d advanced to him by the Secretary and that would be refunded out of money coming to him for stonebroaking for the Borough Council was approved. .. To an old woman who. was ill and her husband in a distant part of the country, the Secretary had given an order for 10s. The son-in-law was working in Palliate. The sor. was at Woodville but out of employment, and the husband was a cripple and could earn next to nothing • The secretary's action was endorsed, and if necessary he was instructed to give her other supplios to the extent of 6s per week. The case, of the widow of a inan recently deceased was discussed. She had been allowed £1 per week since her husband's death, as she had a baby in arms' and a child a permanent cripple. She had other children bosides. It was resolved to allow her 10s a week, with a view to assisting het until she could get back her old work of washing. The Secretary reported sundry eases in which he had given orders for food aud lodging, and his action was endorsed, In the case of an old woman who' was 73 years of age and had been allowed 6s per week, it was resolved that the allowance should be continued. In reference to the relief of casuals able to work, 0r : Meredith thought - it was wrong to let it get about that the Socioty would'provide men in sound health with a bed and food on application. If it once became recognised that they would do so they would be thronged with applications from men able but not willing to work. The Chairman said it was difficult to refuse men who were absolutely without means, and hungry and homeless. Mr Meredith related the case of a man who asked him for work, and he gave it lritii, and he thon asked for enough money for a meal and bed, This he also gav"» to him, and the man then went and preferred the same request to two others, and was seen afterwards with a handful of silver in a public house. The Chairman said no doubt the Society was imposed upon in some instances, but the question was whether it was not better that It should be so than to refuse some who were absolutely in want.

Mr Fulton said he had found that these casual applicants nearly always preferred money to orders, and he found where hegivetieketa they were frequently notused. Orders were a check to imposition to a great extent. Mr Meredith said he did netthink able bedjed men were proper objects for .the Society to relievo unless-- they were disabled. If they could not obtain work 3t the rate they demanded they 'should not refuse to offer themselves at a lower rate. It should not be recognised that men could get relief from the Society when they were able to work. He hoped' it would,be understood that he was not givinp his individual opinion. He merely "echoed the sentiments of those who had placed him on - the Board. Ho was certain, that what he had uttered were the sentiments of the County Councillors whom he represented. No relief, should be given to able bodied men unless in very exceptional cases, He put it to those present, was 'there any man who could not got the pries of his food and a bed nt any farmhouse in the district in exchange for labor! The Secretary -said in answer to Mr Gapper, there had been 8 cases of casual relief sine* the 12th May, exclusive of the stone breakers. The Chairman said as the matter had ventilated, perhaps the Secretary would be stricter even than before.

The Secretary said the stone-breaking was a very good test, if they refused that they could net be cn the very verge of starvation.

The case of a man who was consumptive and whose wife was ill with dropsy, was considered. In this case the sum of £5 had been paid in to the Society through Mr Pulton that the Society might disburse it for their advantage. They had both been hard working people, but were now quite disabled through illness. It was resolved that they be paid 10s per week for the present.

Jn several cases the allowances previously voted were continued till the next meeting.

The case of the wife of a bullock driver, who was in distress, was brought forward. Her husband was a great drunkard, and although quite able to work, did not provide for his wife. The Secretary reported he had given her assistance to the extent of 10s,

The action of the Secretary was endorsed.

The Chairman reported the case of a Dane who had a frightful wound on his hand, and was unable to work. He had paid £lO in February as deposit and part payment on 60 acres.of land, and in Marohhedwvea crowbarintohiihand,, which had prevented him working his land since. He (the Chairman) had given him an ardor to the extent of 10s,

Letters were read, supporting , the deserving nature of the ca?e, and pointing out that he was the principal witness in _ a recent calf'stealing case, over which he had lost both time and money, and with his family was now quite destitute.

It was resolved to'grant him. 15s per week until the next melting. ;. A case sent down by the R;M. was reported. The Secretary stated' that he had offered relief on rendition that the man went itonebrealung .He had heard no more of the case since. • ■ ,

In answer \o Mr Meredith, the Secretary said an experienced man could- earn 6s per day, and even an old man-could earn 3s a day stonebreaking. The Secretary was instructed to call in all outstanding subscriptions and to prepare a contribution book showing all amounts paid up and all outstanding sub j ' scriptions. ' v:;_'.v\' It was resolved that' the' Secretary ■write to the Government "and' urge upon them the necessity of forwarding the subsidy forthwith as the'. Secretary required' the money.. ' ' ;/'■'. >' -':,": It was resolved that future meetingsi be held every second ; Wednesday in the month, :.-•:■''•/.': :•;'; .. <■ "■■ Thiseoricludedtheb.usiiwss, ;. \-.'^ :