BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Evening Star, Issue 6913, 28 May 1885, Page 3

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The weekly meeting of the Committee, held tins afternoon, was attended by Messrs Rennie (chairman), Ainger, Kirkpatrick, Carroll, Solomon, Gourley, Generals Fulton and Irvine.

The South Dunedin Borough Council applied to be allowed a strip of the Asylum ground 10ft wide for the construction of a box-drain along the Cargill road. —Consideration was deferred in order that the Committee might ascertain their legal position in regard to the matter. ... Consideration of an application from the Cttversham Council to be allowed to deposit earth upon the frontage of the Asylum as to give it a slope* Was a.so Mr Aitken. tile Coirimitteb’s inspector, Was presbnt at; ,tile. meeting hi, reference to the case of Mrs Wright.— Tile Chairman told Him that there Had been Some complaints in regard to his,action in visiting Mrs Wright! ( lt had been i asserted that he had exceeded his duties, and thp Committee wished to hear what Ke had to say. -r Mr Aitken stated that he had made inquiries of Mr Wright in accordance with his duties, but he had been in no way uncivil. He had suggested that Mr Wright should try and get a cheaper house, or let a room, but had not acted offensively in any shape or way. He deemed it his duty to make minutest inquiries into the cases. In regard to this particular one a respectable person had told him it was “a jolly shame’ that the Committee should give relief to a man who was quite able to earn his living. Mr Gourley considered that the inspector should not act the part of a detective, as he was doing. His duty was simply to report the circumstances of cases to the Committee. —Mr Aitken said he had no object in brow-beating people. He simply endeavored to carry out his duties. Unless he inquired minutely into cases he might as well stop at home.— The Chairman Said that Mr Aitken’s office was a very difficult one, and the Committee should not fetter him in any way in his endeavors to prevent imposition.—General Fulton defended the action of the inspector. From what he had heard he believed that Mr Wright's case was a most undeserving one,—Mr Solomon considered that the Committee’s proper course was to inquire into cases themselves. At an early date he should move that all applicants for relief should be visited by a subcommittee. General Irvine and Mr Ainger were of opinion that the inspector had not acted improperly, and that he ought to be backed up by the Committee.—Mr Gourley said lie was not prepared to take the inspector’s tx parte statement. —General Fulton considered that the failure of Mrs Wright to be present justified the inspector. He moved “ThatMr Aitken having been heard the Committee are of opinion that no blame is attached to the Inspector. ’’ —Carried unanimously. The Chairman said in regard to the complaint of an applicant that the secretary had mimicked her that he had made inquiries, and as far as he could ascertain Mr Clulee Was not to blame. The woman, when interrogated, said she had made no charge against the secretary, and there appeared to nave been a misunderstanding.—The Committee expressed its satisfaction with the secretary’s explanation. On the motion of Mr Solomon it was resolved—" That the secretory be requested to place upon the table at each Committee meeting the particulars of all relief granted by him upon his own responsibility since the previous meeting,”