OUR BOASTED CIVILISATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12834, 6 April 1905, Page 6

OUR BOASTED CIVILISATION

THE WOES OF AN OLD MAN.

SAD CASE IN WELLINGTON.

TO BE REPORTED TO THE

MINISTER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington-, Wednesday. The method adopted in this city for dealing with the destitute is shown in an extraordinary light by the case of Alexander Milne, an old mail who was brought before the magistrate charged with being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support. Sub-Inspector O'Donovan said the man had been remanded last Saturday week, in order to see if the benevolent trustees would take him back to the Ohiro Home. The following Monday the old man, who had been taken into the home pending the meeting of the trustees on the Tuesday, came to the police station and stated that he had been cruelly treated, and would not be allowed to apply for his pension. The sub-inspector of police informed Mr. Purvis, secretary of the trustees, of the position, and at his instigation Milne was boarded out pending the decision of the trustees next day, when they decided to have nothing further to do with the man, that they could not take him back, and had exhausted their resources in dealing with his ease. Dr. McArlhur said, "This man is in his second childhood." Sub-Inspector O'Donovan said that Milne then wandered away to the Lower Hutt, and was found in a cowshed. He said he slept there a night or two. and some kind neighbour had supplied him with food. A eonstable, who had been seeking his whereabouts, brought him back. Dr. McArthur: Isn't the Ohiro Home the place for a, man like this? Sub-Inspector O'Douovan: It is very hard to ask Your Worship to brand the man with a. criminal charge when he has no criminal tendencies. Dr. McArlhur said it seemed to him that we were going back to the old tide : Rattle his bones over the stones, lie's only a, pauper that nobody owns. Milne's bones could not be rattled over the stones because he carried them himself. and the verse might be parodied to lit the attitude of the authorities, thus: Hustle him on ont of our pale. He's only u beggar, and tit lor the gaol. He (the magistrate) would have to give the poor old fellow three months, hut "I'll promptly report the matter to the Minister loi Justice and see if that will do smite good." Milne grew very excited, and in a half subbing voice cried out th.it he lievei deserved gaol, ami had no business in New Zeulaud, "This." concluded the magistrate, as two constables led the old wizened man away, "is an example of our boa-ted civilisation."