REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2909, 26 May 1873, Page 3

REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE.

To the Editor of the Herald.

Sra, —At a meeting of the committee for | organising a " Kefuge for the Destitute," of which you gave a report oti the 2nd instant, it was determined that a deputation of the members should wait on the Superintendent, with the object of ascertaining what assistance could be rendered by the Provincial Government to extend the " Old Men's Home," by adding another wing as a refuge or place of relief for extreme cases of poverty ; but, as I anticipated, it ended in nothing, and the mere fact of showing a desire to throw the onus upon the Government even called into question the necessity for such an institution. Fortunately, it is true that these sad cuees are not yet so numerous as to require Government reports upon them ; but still it was admitted, even by His Honor himself, that " the cases of starvation wero few." If, then, there are n few that cannot be hidden, and that the gaunt spectre of hunger and want is known to be in our midst, how many cases ore there that never come to lig'»t, since all men try to hide their poverty, until reduced to extremity ? How much suffering, misery, and hunger is quietly and patiently endured, becauso tho3e who are honest would rather suffer than commit thoft or crime, as the only rceans within their reach of get tine food and shelter ? The magistrates! and clergy are those who aro brought the most frequently into communication with the destitute —the one to punish and the other to relieve, and they do not say the cases are few ; but, on the contrary, that they are many ; and if we would not ha»e them go on increasing, it is high time that those who would help in this good cause should put their own shoulders to the wheel, and neither shrink from their responsibilities nar try to

put them upon the shoulders of the Government, which appears to ba a habit the people of this colony have insensibly fallen into, and orcibly recalls the fable of " Jupitor's ad vied to the carter in difficulties." This dependence upon others is sure to be continued so long as it is encouraged. lam therefore, neither aurprised nor disappointed at the deputation diling m the object of their interview with -tiouor, for even had their request been agreed to, the result would have been a miserable substitute that would have borne no resembniuce to the institution proposed. I ll a wealthy commercial city like this, it is time that local charities were taken iu hand by the inhabitants themselves, and that the puerile dependauce on Government of heretofore, tor those things with which it has no concern suoulcl bo given up. Let us look our obligations fairly in the face, and meet them in a liberal spirit, like men disposed to obey the great commandment, "Xhou ;,halt love thy neighbour," &c and show by our acta of charity that we are not wholly given up to the worship of the golden calf. There are few indeed who will deny—if they speak from hcvst conviction—that a refuge for the destitute is not imperhiveiy required, or tbafc have not heard of those extreme cases of poverty nud misery it is intended only to relieve; neither can anv one complain that the charities of Auckland are a drain upon their resources, or that up to the present time tho institutions entirely supported by voluntary contributions stand forth as proofs and examples of the benevoleneo of its inhabitants, does not the absence rather of those noblo charities so prominentin tho sister colony present a striking contrast, and an eloquent reproach to the apathy hitherto shown here. I have used the word apathy, because I think it expresses the real truth better than any harsher term would do. Ido not believe there is less charitable and benevolent feeling in Auckland than in any other Christian community, and I also think there is much truth iu his Houor the Superintendent's remark, that " probably there had not been the necessity for those institutions here," implying that hitherto prosperity has been the rule in this province; but now it cannot be denied that a change has taken place, mid that depression prevails, and is increasing, in consequence of the failing of our gold mining industry (temporarily only, I hope), but still it has become incumbent on those who aro the recipients of the favors Providence has bestowed, to throw off this apathy, ;-ud to stretch forth a helping hand to relieve those extreme cases of poverty for which this uppeal is made, as to this purpose alone every penny subscribed will be faithfully applied. ' At the public meeting, held at the Mechanics' Institute on Thursday last, a variety of opinions were expressed, but all of them wero biased, and probably misled, by the impression each speaker entertained as to the difficulty of obtaining funds, or that charitable feeling in Auckland does not exist to the extent of affording substantial assistance in establishing thia much-needed charity. My opinion is, that before any benevolence is judged it should be tried, and if, as I firmly believe, it is here only apathetic, and not dead, it will be roused and called into action by an appeal in such a cause as this ; hence tho resolution passed at the meeting, and quoted in the Hebald of Friday hist—namely, that an appeal be made to tho public to ascertain how far they would assist iu carrying out this charitable object." A feeble attempt waß made at this meeting to bring forward a resolution, that the clergy should be solicited io give the collections of one Sunday in the year, in aid of this institution ; but it was opposed on the grounds that it would be giving away a fifty-second part of their income, my opinion is that the well-to-do tradesman who opposed it on this ground, was rather drawing his judgment from an estimate of his own liberality, than that which would be likely to be the true feeling of the clergy not of one only but of all denominations, for it is well known there is no class of men, be of what creed they may, who do so much real good aruongst the fpoor, or upon whom greater reliance may bo placed whon an anpeal is made to them in a cause like this. There are at least sit thousand persons in Auckland who could afford to give sixponco per week in charity, and never feel its loss, even in the slightest degree ; but I am far from asking this. I will, however, venture to ask one in sis of these six thousand to give l.Vd. per week, or iu other words, I ask one thousand of Auckland's, prosperous inhabitants to subscribe £1 a-year each; any amount beyond this I leave to themselves ; but this I do most earnestly ask them to give, for their own credit's sake, siuce to fail in establishing a charity like this, when once set on foot, and the necessity for which is so generally acknowledged, would be to Btamp Auckland benevolence as a dead-letter and a rotten reed for the poor to depend upon. ]3ut, failure 1 do not believe in. I will not admit anything but that we shall be enabled to establish such a "Refuge" as will not only be a credit to tho city as a lceul charity, but that the committee will have a large income to work with, and be enabled to remove from our daily journals those distressing cases of want and destitution that oflate have so often cried out against us with a loud voice ; tho temptation to commit theft and orim? r.s a means of procuring food and sheiftT will no longer be held out; and men, women, and children, under certain rules and restrictions, will be saved from the horrors of starvation when overtaken by misfortune, and driven to tlio extremes of poverty and want. Such an institution is stive to be favourably regarded by tho public generally, but it is the individual effort that is required. Should each one who can afford it say to him or herself " there will bo plenty to subscribe without me," then indeed it must fail, but let not those who thus selfishly find this, or any other excuse, Hatter themselves that they are not morally responsible for tho destitution, starvation, and tho deaths that may arise therefrom ; or that they are not to blame for the misery they may hereafter hear or read of, but which they, out of their abundauce, have refused to contribute the smallest coin to relieve when the opportunity was given them to do sj. But in place of selfish excuses let those who waver reflect, that a trifle given in such a cause will be like tho seed " which felt on good ground, brought forth abundantly, and returned the sower a hundred fold." To those who fancy they cannot afford it I would say—try, economise in something else ; who knows that you may not be laying the foundation for relief, I will hope not to yourself, parent, or child ; but it may be for some one dear to you. Recollect the case of Adam Chisholm. Doubtless in his day he little expected to have need of such an institution. Subscription lists now lie at each of the banks, and donations will also be thankfully accepted, but it is very desirable that the income should be of a permanent character, therefore annual subscriptions, however small, are most earnestly requested. The Right Rev. t!ie Bishop of Auckland has kindly given his patronage and support, and the names of the acting committee, as shown by the advertisement, which "will be found elsewhere ici this paper, aro well calculated to inspire confidence, as they are all gentlemen of position ami good standing iu this city, and who give their services gratuitously. I feel that I am encroaching too much on your valuable space, but also that I am bound to do mv utmost iu promoting the cause, to assist in which the distinguished patron and acting committee have so kindly volunteered their services ; and though I alono must be held responsible for the contents of this letter, thereis no doubt that they are, one and all, equallydesirous to carry out this good work we have-, mutually in view. It is now before the public>. and in their hands it must, for the present, be left, and according to their liberality it must stand or fall. It is proposed that the subscription lists shall remain open until the llih day of June next, when, if contrary to my belief and expectation, it is found that the fundsplaced at tho disposal of the committee are not sufficient to warrant them in incurring the necessary expenses and liabilities, 'hen all sums uaid in can be ag*iu received V same parties from tho bank into v\ lc Jr were paid. The result either way wi duiy announced. —-I have, &e., J. C. Stovin-, Hon Sfi-retiury.