Annual General Meeting Of Subscribers

To the Otago Benevolent Institution

Tuesday, February 6, 1873.

The, Annual Meeting of the Members of the above Institution, was hold on Thursday, 6th February, 1873, in Farley's Buildings, Mr R. B. Martin in the chair. There were also present, the Hon. James Paterson, the Rev. E. G. Edwards, the Rev. Dr. Stuart, Mr Hocken, and Messrs Wilkie, H. F. Hardy, J. Mollison, and A. Rennie. The Chairman read a letter from the President, Mr A. C. Strode, stating his inability, through pressure of business, to attend.

The Chairman, before calling upon the Secretary to read the report, said that since his term of office in connection with the Institution, he did not recollect a year during which the Committee had laboured under circumstances so embarrassing as they experienced last winter. He regretted to say that owing to the want of funds the Committee could not satisfy the claims of many needy persons, and the Committee gradually drifted into so bad a position that they felt they would be compelled either to close the doors of the Institution and cease to give relief, or take steps to meet only the most urgent cases. They decided, in fact, under the extreme circumstances of the case, to render assistance only to the absolutely destitute. Lacking sufficient information, the Committee perhaps, had sometimes erred, but even supposing that to be the case, the children had always benefited. The difficulties which the retiring Committee had encountered would also have to be faced by the incoming one. Great efforts mnst be made to increase the funds of the page 6 Institution, otherwise a poor-law assessment would have to be established. That, of course, was a most deplorable thing to contemplate. Having lived in a country where it existed, he sincerely hoped it would never exist here; however, the matter rested with the clergy and laity to endeavour to render increased assistance to the Institution; and, without reflecting upon any particular church, he would say that many of them had not responded to the invitations to assist the Institution as he had expected they would have done. He therefore thought that it was only right that the churches which had contributed for some years should be mentioned in the report. The funds had been distributed without regard to creed; the Committee had never made it a question as to what church the applicants for relief belonged: and therefore he thought the Institution had very strong claims upon all the churches. There had not yet been time to ascertain what the country people would contribute; but it was hoped that after the present month, when shearing operations were completed, the Commitee would be able to report having received liberal aid from country gentlemen. Most of the distress was located in Dunedin, owing to wretches of husbands deserting their wives and families, and leaving them unprovided for; but not half of those people were Dunedin people.

The Secretary of the Institution (Mr J. S. Hickson) then read the Report of the Committee, Medical Report, and Financial Statement.

The Rev. Dr Stuart said he did not take the despondent view of matters that the Committee seemed to do, for their experience during the past year was also the experience of Committees from time immemorial, viz., great claims upon the funds of the Institution, and little coming in to meet them. But it had always happened that funds were ultimately forthcoming, and therefore he hoped the Committee would continue in office. In the future they would no doubt have similar experiences, meet with similar difficulties, and achieve similar victories. He wished they could adopt some plan whereby the co-operation and assistance, not only of the people of Dunedin, but of those throughout the Province, would be obtained. Those who knew anything about the working of the Poor Law system in Great Britain would not wish to see it in vogue m Otago; because if a Benevolent Institution was expensive, a poor law system would be ten times more so. It vexed him to find that some sons were so mean-spirited as to allow their aged parents to apply for and receive aid from the Benevolent Institution. Of course, the Committee could not refuse to assist poor miserable creatures, but he would really like to find the settlers of Otago frowning upon those page 7 sons and daughters who, being able to support their aged parents, allowed them to receive aid from an Institution of this kind. He (Dr Stuart) referred to a similar case which occurred in his native village. So irritated were the people there, that the aged mother of one of the villagers should be left dependent upon the public funds, that they conducted themselves towards him in a way that was calculated to make any man, who was a man, feel particularly uncomfortable. He really would like to see such a spirit fostered in Otago, and believed the Committee would render a great service to the community if they endeavored to stir up such a spirit of social independence as would cause people to feel ashamed of leaving their aged parents to be the recipients of public charity and support. The public were very much indebted to those gentlemen who had conducted the affairs appertaining to the Otago Benevolent Institution during the last and previous years. He was glad to hear that the Committee testified to the efficiency and success with which the officers of the Institution had discharged their duties. So far as he (Dr Stuart) could see, the officers displayed a kindly, but firm manner. He regretted to hear that only a few of the churches in the Province had rendered assistance, seeing that the Institution benefited, not only Dunedin, but the whole of Otago. He urged that strenuous efforts should be made to induce outsiders to contribute, and suggested that the Committee should spot those able to subscribe, and request them to do so. He moved the adoption of the report.

The Rev. Mr Edwards seconded the motion.

Mr A. Bonnie, on rising to support the motion, said he regretted to see an attendance so small. No doubt, if it were a meeting for the choice of a member or members for the Town Council, or for some similar purpose, numerous persons would be found seeking the honour; but it really did seem that people did not think it worth while countenancing and taking part in the proceedings of an Institution of that kind. Some suggesion had been made to the Committee by the Rev. Dr Stuart; but he (Mr Rennie) did not see that the Committee could do more than they had already done. In one sense they had worked for the sake of the poor, and in another, for the sake of the public, because if the Committee had not done so, the Government would have been obliged to take steps to meet the difficulty. Although they did not wish to see an assessment introduced in order to meet the wants of the poor, he was not sure if it would not ultimately come to that. It really appeared that at the present time it was the best of the two evils. For what was the fact? Reports were made every year of the want of funds, and of the poor being neglected in consequence. It was very painful to the Com- page 8 mittee to have appeals made to them to relieve cases of distress, when they were unable to relieve them.—(Hear, hear.) If more assistance were not given during the present year, he would certainly urge the Government to cause a rate to be inflicted as soon as possible, so that the assistance given might be equalised throughout the Province. It was evident that they must not allow the poor to suffer.

The Chairman said he wished to make a few remarks in reply to what the Rev. Dr. Stuart had said regarding the "spotting" of those persons able to assist. The Committee had always done so, and he thought it was an opportune time to express the gratitude of the Committee to those—districts, he meant, not individuals—that had liberally subscribed. He would mention Lawrence, for instance. The people there wore not urged to subscribe, but they had subscribed liberally and willingly. He might state further that on the 24th October a circular, of which the following is a copy, was sent to clergymen:—

"Sir,—The funds of the Institution being at present almost exhausted, and the calls made upon them being more than ordinarily heavy (the out-door relief alone during the winter months averaging from £25 to £26 per week), the Committee feel confident that in the cause of charity the various Churches throughout the Province will render help, by making special collections in aid of the above charitable Institution. I have therefore the honour, by direction of the Committee, to request that you will be so good as to accord your support in the above manner at as early a date as you may deem proper. This appeal is reluctantly made, owing mainly to the subsidy given by the Government having been reduced from £2 to £1 to £1 subscribed. Should the result of this appeal not be favourable, the Committee fear that they will be compelled to withhold out-door relief entirely.—I have, &c., John S. Hickson, Secretary." He might also say that the Committee had been driven to the extremity of asking for accommodation at the Bank, to enable them to meet their liabilities, leaving the question of relief out of consideration.

The Rev. Dr. Stuart: Does the Government contribute £2 towards the making of roads?

The Chairman: No, £1.

The Rev. Dr Stuart: Oh, I was afraid they dealt more liberally with roads than with humanity.

The Chairman: The following circular was also sent, at the same time, to the laity:—

"Sir,—I have the honour, by direction of the Committee of page 9 the Otago Benevolent Institution, to solicit your co-operation and influence to obtain some assistance from your employées and neighboring friends. All donations thus raised will be subsidised by one pound to one by the Provincial Government. The funds of the Institution being at present almost exhausted, and the calls made upon them being more than ordinarily heavy (the out-door relief alone during the winter months averaging from £25 to £26 per week), this appeal is reluctantly made, and is mainly owing to the Government withdrawing the subsidy of £2 to £1. The Committee fear that they will be compelled to withhold outdoor relief, unless they receive support from the public.—I have, &c., John S. Hickson, Secretary."

The Committee's report, and report of the Medical Officer, and balance sheet were adopted.

The re-election of the following office-bearers took place:—President, Mr A. C. Strode; Vice-Presidents, Mr Wilkie and Mr R. B. Martin; Treasurer, Mr R. B. Martin; Members of Committee, Messrs J. Mollison, James Fulton, J, Paterson, and R. A. Lawson. The following new members of Committee were also elected:—Messrs A. Bonnie, R. Oliver, G. P. Farquhar, and James Galbraith.

A vote of thanks having been unanimously passed to Mr Hardy for auditing the accounts, and to the Chairman for presiding, the meeting separated.