BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3841, 25 June 1891, Page 2

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.

A special meeting of the Wai-! rarapa North Benevolent Institution was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, there being present —Messrs H. D. Dagg (in the chair), W. H. Beetham and S. E. Gapper. The Secretary explained that the object of the meeting was to consider what Bhould be aorie with reference to the Williams family, who were now being maintained by the Society. Correspondence from various Benevolent Institutions which have had dealings with the family in question was read, tha Wanganui Society repudiating all liability as the family had left without their sanction.

The Secretary stated that the Wellington United Charitable Aid Board had written, stating that under section 74 of the. Act the cost of maintenance of the family could be claimed' and recovered ifrom the Wanganui and Patga Institutions, provided relief. had been extended immediately the family arrived, The opinion of the solicitor to the Society was read on the subject, which was similar 1 to that received from the tiharitable Board.

The Secretary stated that the sum of £lO 9s 6d had been expended in the maintenance of the family. Mr Beetham: How many are there in the family ? The Secretary: There are five children.

Mr Gapper: By the way the children are being dragged up they will be nothing but gypsies. It is a disgraceful state of things. I will n£ove that the whole matter be placed in the hands of the Society's solicitor for the recovery of the cost of mainten&nae fros) the Wanganui and | Patea Institutions, Mr Beetham seconded, and exprebsed the opinion that the greatest i economy was practiced with regard to I the family. pjotion was put and carried upaDißjouslf. fhe Secretary Stated that it bad been reported that the Williams family were only receiving ten shillings a week from the Society and the public thought this was not sufficient. Mrßcetban, -: Tho family should at any rate receive enough to live upon. Mr Gapper: I understand the position we are taking is one to compel tlje family to return from whence they came. Ido not think >ve should give* them sufficient.. &Cr Beetham thought they should giyp tj)e famiiy sufficient to livjb upon. They should regoyer the amount from the Wanganui Board, The njai} was a ciipple and could not work, and the woman was an imbecile.

Mr Gapper: She might be like a servant girl Tknew. She could eat well and well, but when it came to work she could do nothing,.

Mr Beetham : The woman seema ta be an imbecile.

Mr Gapper moved, "That before an increase in the amount is given, a guarantee be received from the Wanganui Bo<*r4 thatthe amount will be refunded," Mr Beetham seconded. —Carried.

The Chairman thought the case in question had shown at least one defect in the Act. He would move that the member for. the district be requested to. use his utmoat efforts to secure its amendment. ' Mp Clapper seconded. —Carried. The Secretary pointed gut that a former patient, Mrs Gobb, bad feesi} turned out of the Asylum and was quite destitute. She appeared to be still weak in her mind. Mr Cobb could not be found, although the matter Jiji4 been placed in the hands of che policy. ft was deeded that relief of ten shillings a week be extended to the unfortunate woman and that she be examined as to her mental condition by two medical officers. One or two casual .cases were dealt with and the'meeting adjourned.