THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Evening Star, Issue 5969, 29 April 1882, Page 1

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

A meeting of the life governors and subscribers to the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon in Farley's Hall, to consider what further action ehould be taken as to an inquiry into the recent charges made against the secretary and th« general management of the Institution. There were between thirty and forty gentlemen present, the president (Mr R. B. Martin) being in the chair. Mr Mabtijt, after explaining the events that led up to the calling of the meeting, said that he had received two letters, one from the Rev. Mr Byng, who expressed himself in favor of the appointment of a royal commission, and the other from Mr H. F. Hardy, who their labors would result in the benefit of the Institution. The speaker then referred to a letter which had appeared in the Stab questioning the legality of the present meeting. He admitted that there was such a rule as mentioned by the writer, but as this meeting was altogether outside their ordinary meetings he did not think there was any reason for questioning its legality: Speak- i ing for himself he had no intention of being identified with any commission or committee that might be appointed, and as he had made up his mind to withdraw her" would ask the meeting to appoint their chairman. On the motion of Mr Walkeb it was agreed wat Bishop Nevill should take the .chair. Archdeacon Edwards then moved the following resolution :—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is advisable that the Government should be requested to appoint a commission with full power, to investigate., the matters relative to the management of the Benevolent Institution." In doing so he said that he was aware that two other proposals had been mooted—one to the effect that this meeting should appoint ft committee of inquiry, and the other that the Committee of the Institution should'appoint the committee. He thought there were very great objections to be found to both these courses. Firstof all those who took an interest in the welfare of the Institution would not be satisfied with Buch a committee, which would not be able to force persons to come and give evidence before them; it would be optional with those who could give evidence whether they came or not. If a Royal Commission were appointed such would not be the case. It was a matter for regret that persons should be going about the town calling upon editors of papers and buttonholing people in the streets and telling them all sorte of stories—which may have some foundation ornot—with regard to the management of the Institution. It did the Institution a great deal of injury, and could not possibly do any good. He could not understand why those persons did not go direct to the Committee and state their charges to them. A Royal Commission he thought would be a final one. If the present state of things continued it would be found that no gentleman would consent to act on the Committee. A step had been recommended that the secretary should take a leave, of absence for three monthfe pending* further inquiry. That did not commend itself to his mind, because there were charges made against other officers besides Mr Quin, and if oneleft it was only right that the others should also retire.

Mr J. L. GiiLips seconded the motion pro - forma. He said that it must be distinctly understood that he had not come there prepared to 'support a motion of this kind; in fact, his mind was not made up what ceurse* should be pursued under the circumstances. He came to hear the notions of all parties, and was prepared to bow his opinion to thecollective wisdom of the meeting. He would state the steps that he had taken to satisfy, himself with regard to the charges that baa been brought against the Institution. Thja speaker then referred to the action, and the interest he had taken in the carnivals held for the purpose of raising funds for the Institution. In connection with the first carnival he said that he had found that there were a gieat many persons who were prepared to adopt a system of what he called {>etty larceny—that was, seeking for the ' argest amounjb of credit for the smallest amount of work. At the time of the third carnival a certain gentleman made statements to him about the Institution, but the charges were limited to affairs connected with the food and the treatment of the inmates, not a syllable being breathed similar to the present gross charges. He told that gentleman that it would be a mistaken policy to enter into the question at that time, when funds were urgently required for the Institution; it could only be damaging in its effects. He, however, promised to thoroughly investigate the charges afterwards if the gentleman would put them in writing, but although he saw the gentleman on two or three : occasions subsequently he never received the "'■ charges. He might have published those charges and created an excitement, but he preferred to satisfy himself first that they ? had some foundation. He went to work by himself to ascertain the truthfulness or otherwise of the charges. He took a variety of means, some of which rather surprised Mr Quin when he was told (ft them afterwards. The speaker would mention two instances. The Mayor of Lawrence, when on a visit to Dariedin, talking about the Institution, said ; that there were two children there in whom he took an interest, and he would like to know how they were getting on—having even at that time seen indirect reference to something wrong in the management. He (Mr Gillies) offered to accompany him, and give him an opportunity of seeing the children in such a way that he could ascertain all particulars of their treatment from themselves, without the possibility of their being influenced or intimidated. They went there together. Mr Quin was away, and having gamed the children's confidence, he left his friend to question them as he pleased. He did so, with a result that was perfectly satisfactory in every particular. A second instance was that of a . gentleman who came from theHomeCountry, and had travelled over the Continent, and was known to take great interest in these institutions. He also wjas anxious to see an inmate of the Institution whom he knew. > The speaker left him alone with the man, ' and he questioned him on every general subject, and also on the charges in connection with which his name had been mentioned. He again gave frank and satisfactory denials to the allegations made. In the* face of this evidence, and ef the fact that , these recent charges were started by nearly the same persons as had been concerned in the former ones, he had come to the conclusion that the case simply afforded another illustration of the three black crews. Speaking of the persons who made the present charges, he said he had no doubt that they actually believed the charges (hey made, although they might not have ■ , the least shadow of a foundation. He thought it was exceedingly desirable that a stop should be put to such charges, for they could not possibly be beneficial to the com* < muniiy nor to the Institution. Keepingsneh a subject before the people, especially ybufcg people, day by day and-night by night in the dairy prints must exercise a most influence on their minds.—(Hear, hear.) K the man who undertook the onerous position - of manager to the Institution were to.be -. . tripped up by every casual story mannfao* . . tured byDiek, Tom* or Harry, there was no tw surer way ef prostituting their Institution,' , '"•" •_ and they would' soon find that no mitt _1 -' who had any respect for himself ur "'f fi °f his hjatself fa t -^.". ?

position to be badgered and worried in the way Mr Quin had been lately. A letter had appeared in last night's Star insinuating that the girlJohnstonhad been toMelbourne. He had good reason to believe that the girl had never been out of Dunedin in her life, but he would like some member of the Committee to give an assurance to the public that the intimation was unfounded.

Mr Ross replied that there was no foundation for the statement. He had been assured by the girl's employer that she was at work during the whole time of the Melbourne Exhibition. Referring to certain reflections thai had been cast on the Committee in a letter which bore the signature that his Lordship the Bishop usually appended to his communications, the speaker felt that the present was a fitting opportunity for answering them. In the latter part of the letter the writer said that it was extremely strange that a young girl should be placed with a mistress of so notorious a character as Johnston's mistress, and reference was also made to Gordon as one cf the girls trained in the Institution, who exhibited a depravity lamentable to see. He wished to say that the girl was not placed with Mrs Dennistoun until after a most searching inquiry into her character. Mr M'Fie reported that she was a highly respectable character, and Mr M'Gill also gave his testimony to the good character of the woman. If the Committee had received a bad account the girl would certainly not have been allowed to have gone. The Committee were men, and were therefore liable to be deceived.

The Chairma* thought it desirable that he should explain about the letter he had written from Balclutha. Since his return to Dunedin he had discovered that he had made a mistake in imagining Mrs Dennistoun 'to have been the employer of the girl referred to. As allusion had been made to him and also to others whom he thought it was his duty to defend to some extent, he had written a letter to the Press, in which he took occasion to add a word or two as to what impressed him as arising out of the evidence given at the late trial, but nothing was further from his desire than that any slight should have been thrown upon any person. From what Mr Koss had said it appeared that there was an apology for having put the girl into the charge of Mrs Dennistoun, and that was the whole of his point. He said that he was impressed with the fact that it seemed strange that a girl who had been in the Institution from childhood should be placed in charge of a person who, according to the evidence, was an improper character. It appeared to him that some care should be taken in such cases; but he had not known at the time that the Committee had taken the requisite steps. Mr Hudson asked Mr Ross if he had received some letters which had been addressed to the Committee as to Mrs Dennistoun refuting flie imputations that had been cast upon her. As her name had been introduced, he hoped in justice to her that they would be read to the meeting and made public. Mr Ross replied that he had. The Chairman said that this was scarcely the point, as they had a resolution to dispose of first.

Mr Green, M.H.R., said that he was glad that this question about Mrs Dennistoun had been brought up, because he now felt more bold to give fuller testimony than that which he had given in Court, when, without intending it, he might have done grave injury to a comparatively innocent person. Persons' characters should not be taken away without their having an opportunity of clearing themselves, and he felt constrained to state his strong impression as to the reliable character of Mrs Dennistoun, if her manner of giving evidence was anything to go by. He understood that O'Keefe, who gave testimony detrimental to Mrs Dennistoun's character, was an old acquaintance of Quin's, and it therefore seemed strange to him that Quin should not have known how the man was living—that was, that he was a man not having a wife, or, if he had one, not living with her, but that he was living with Mrs Dennistoun; and it also seemed strange, whatever may have been the report of Mr M'Fie to the Committee, that Quin should not have known something of the woman's antecedents. O'Keefe, by the testimony he cave, showed that he was a most mean and despicable man. If Quin knew the character of this woman, how was it that he did not give information to the Committee ? In the event of Quin having known this it would certainly place matters a little awkwardly for him. He would say a few words as to the necessity for an inquiry, and hoped they would give him credit for having an interest in the welfare of the Institution. He was aware that there were reports circulated as to want of sobriety on the part of the manager, and rumors flying about as to the autocratic position taken up by the manager, and also as to the Committee giving way more than they should do.—(Cries of "No, nol"). He was very glad to have that correction from the Committee. He felt bold in speaking thus, because he could not be charged with any bias in favor of or against the man. He must say that he had himself seen a manifestation of that autocratic spirit which he thought should not be countenanced; he therefore did not speak merely from impression. He had heard him say that if a certain female inmate, who had gone out without his permission, was admitted to the Institution again, he would leave. He thought no secretary should have power to say who should and who should not come into such an institution. He had been •onnected with similar institutions in Melbourne, and had seen no person in the position of a secretary who had ever been permitted to turn an inmate out. If there were cause of complaint the secretary could report it to the Committee, who visited the Institution week by week. Not one man in a million was fit to have autocratic power; and ho thought that in so much having been left to Mr Quin he had been placed in a false position. The holding of a Royal Commission was in his opinion very important, as he felt that a thorough investigation was needed before confidence could be restored. He was not one that believed all or nearly all the charges thathad been made, but he felt that all should be investigated. One charge—that of intoxication—he knew had no foundation. He was there at the time of the alleged offence, and saw not the slightest sign of it himself ; and it might be that all the charges were as groundless. He would not say that he knew the manager to be unsteady, but he and others knew that too much was left in his hands, and that he had exercised it to send persons away from the Institution. The speaker was the means of sending an aged person there, who understood that she would be able to go out by asking permission. She asked permission, and was refused, but went out without it. On her return she was told she would not be allowed in the Institution again. It was here that he thought the Committee were a little to blame. To leave such power in the hands of the secretary f laced both him and them in a false position, t was for this reason he demurred to the remark of the Ven. Archdeacon Edwards, who condemned the proposal that Mr Quin should leave the Institution while the inquiry was progressing. By this means he would have full justice meted out to him, and he was sure that general feeling would be more fully satisfied. The Rev. Dr Stuart would say that he had taken a warm interest in the Institution, and had hitherto believed it was conducted on the most satisfactory principles. He had been in constant communication with the Committee and Mr Quin, and had believed that they had been carrying oh their work excellently. Mr Quin was not, of course, infallible, and might have spoken or acted ill-advisedly in regard to certain cases of disobedience, but as far as the speaker knew he had acted paternally towards the children, and towards the other inmates in a manner best calculated to ensure their comfort. Nevertheless, if he had the ear of Mr Quin he would rather advise him to take the course suggested, and solicit leave of absence for a time —to court, in fact, the fullest inquiry. He felt sure the result would be to make it plainer that some of the best men obtainable had been connected with the Institution. Whilst careful of the funds committed to them, they had shown kindly consideration for the inmates on all occasions. Mr Green did certainly not carry the speaker with him throughout his remarks. He seemed. to touch upon matters that would have been far better left alone, at least until the inquiry took place. Mr Green was a

minister of the Gospel and a member of Parliament. His remarks would go abroad, and perhaps be believed by many in their entirety, without adequate proof. He had, < in the speaker's opinion, not shown his usual judgment in the speech he made. To advocate an inquiry was perfectly right, but he would be sorry to make charges against the Committee of having encouraged autocracy. One thing was assured, that if Mr Green or anyone else had brought under the notice of the Committee any hardship or injustice caused by Mr Quin's conduct, such would have been rectified at once. Colonists were not afraid in such cases to set matters right, and they feared neither managers nor subscribers. He would, in the interests of the Committee, whom he respected, and of Mr Quin, whom he could not believe guilty, in spite of the reports and charges freely circulated, support an inquiry being held, and such a one as should be thorough and convincing. Mr Tueseder said that with regard to the statement that Mrs Dennistoun and Sergeant O'Keefe had been living together, such was not the case. O'Keefe lived in another part the Province altogether, so that it was impossible for Quin to have known anything about it.

Mr Macciregor denied that such was the case. It was well known that O'Keefe was in Dunedin.

Mr Robert Gillies was sorry to take up a position antagonistic to the meeting, and felt it more as it was also antagonistic to the judgment of the jury. He must, however, enter his protest against the whole affair. One point was in connection with the alleged state of the public mind. He believed that it was entirely misrepresented, and that the greatest and most perfect confidence was Felt in the Committee of Management.— (Applause.) Investigations had already been held into these matters ; and did they mean to say that they were not conducted on a fair basis? Then the matter had been before a judge and jury, and Mr Quin had been acquitted, and that brought him to the point. What was it they now wanted to inquire into? Was it into a charge of immoral conduct ? If so, anyone of experience would know they could never get to the bottom of that. Two parties were implicated in such a case, and if one swore one thing and one another, what were they to do? In his opinion the thing was kept alive by a number of people of prurient minds, and by another section of men who liked to face two ways alternately. They said " Yes, this person is of good character, and all that, but we would like to know," etc. He could call to recollection what had been overlooked by most. It was notorious in history clergymen had been the men above all others most subject to such charges as those now made. The inquiries that had been held had resulted almost invariably in entirely clearing the men where the evidence had been close, but in ninety-nine cases out of 100 the matter had been settled by putting foot upon the slander and stamping it out.—(Applause). Let them see what the character of the man was. If it was such as to command confidence, continue confidence in him ; if not, let him go. With reference to these charges of immorality, that was the position that should be taken up. If this was done, and the Press seconded their efforts, they would soon hear the end of such charges—presuming that it was the secretary's conduct that was in question. If, however, it was against the Committee that the Royal Commission was to be directed, what had they done to render it necessary to bring them before it ? Only one shortcoming was referred to by Mr Green, but anyone who knew anything about that kind of complaints would at once look lightly on such a charge as he had brought forward. Were they on this ground to put these gentlemen to the trouble, and he might almost say disgrace, of a Royal Commission of investigation into their conduct ? The speaker, for one, would be no pa*-ty to it.—(Applause.) If the subscribers had not confidence in them, turn them out and put other men in their places; but he himself must say that he had the fullest confidence in the gentlemen now on the Committee. In his opinion it was a wrong course that they were proposing, and he would move an amendment to the motion did he think there was any chance of it being favorably received. Mr Gillies, on being requested, proposed the following amendment, which was duly seconded:—"That the Committee, as at present constituted, have the full confidence of the meeting, which leaves the matter in their hands."

Mr R. N. Adams dissented from this. An inquiry had been pronounced necessary by the jury, and now the subscribers were asked to contradict this. It was the duty of everyone to endeavor to get to the bottom of the matter, and he hoped that an inquiry would be held, and the Committee come out of it with flying colors. Mr H. J. Walter would support the amendment. The Government had before been applied to appoint a commission, and they had declined; and he would say if the present Committee were to resign, the loss would be with the subscribers. He regretted that so generally-careful a man as Mr Green should have brought forward matter which he should have withheld. It was, to say the least of it, unparliamentary. Mr J. L. Gillies said the amendment was not in any way running counter to the recommendation of the jurors, who said nothing whatever about a Royal Commission. If it was thought necessary, the Committee had power to make investigation, or to appoint it to be made. After hearing both resolution and amendment, he felt inclined to support the latter.

The amendment was then put to the meeting, and carried by a majority of one—l 4 voting for it, and 13 for the motion. The members of the Committee who were present unanimously abstaned from voting.