A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 23

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

At the meeting of the Benevolent Society Tuesday, Mr McKenzie said that previous to the Committee separating he wished to make a short explanation. He considered that he had been unfairly treated by the Press. It was only just, when a man’s speech was made the subject of comment, that what he did say should be fairly reported. In his «ase, the climax of a sentence had been reported, and all that he had said previously had been omitted. The result was, that his feelings and opinion had been entirely misrepresented.' He need hardly say that he was no more in favor of loafers than any other member of the Committee or anonymous writers in journals. What he did say was, that he was pleased to see the vigilance and discrimination that was being exercised in the distribution of the funds of this institution. The Relieving Officer (Mr Johnston) was considered to be well adapted for the position he held,, indeed he was said to be the right man in the right place, and it must be presumed that he would not recommend an undeserving case to be a recipient of the benevolent fund. The institution had also the advantage of the experience of the Committee, who had peculiar means (of knowing the deserving and undeserving poor of the city. The Government expenditure for benevolent purposes was less in Wellington, comparatively, than in any other large centre of population in the Colony, but he claimed that as much good had been done here as in any other Provincial District; and this was largely due to the careful administration of the funds of the Institution. Possibly sometimes they might be deceived in relieving undeserving persons, but who among them had nob been deceived iu private giving? He frequently had ; yet he would rather be imposed on by six, aye a hundred, loafers, than allow one deserving person to perish for want of assistance. The case relieved was that of a poor, woman without means, who was lying in a critical and dangerous condition. The Relieving Officer was called id, and he procured a nurse and medical advice ; and the woman’s life was saved. The question was, that the action of the Relieving Officer be agreed to ; and it was agreed to. Mr Wardell said the Committee knew Mr McKenzie too well to imagine that he would be an advocate for loafers. They had to give relief where needed, and the sooner that was done the better. They could make inquiries immediately afterwards. It was better that they should be imposed on once or twice rather than that real cases of distress should be neglected or put off. After a few remarks from the Rev Mr Van Staveren, who said that bis reading of the report tallied with Mr McKenzie’s explanation, the subject dropped.