NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 899, 4 March 1879, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Society was held last night at Mr. Hardy's office, Wear-street. There were in attendance Messrs. J. H. Milligan (Vice-President, in the chair), Gibbs, Collis, Ronayne, N. Fleming, Allen, M'Farlane, Otterson, Mollison, and Paterson.

The minutes of the last meeting were read for approval. At this juncture Mr. Fleming rose, and dissented to the way in which the raising of the Secretary's salary had been accomplished. The affair presented the appearance of being done in a hole-and-corner fashion. He thought that instead of leaving it until some of the members had departed, concluding that the business for which they had met was at an end, it would have been much better to have brought it on for the consideration of the full meeting. He was one who had retired on that occassion, understanding that only some unimportant routine business remained to be transacted, and now he felt it to be his duty, for the reasons he had mentioned, to oppose the passing of the minutes. Mr. M'Farlane moved, and the chairman seconded, that the minutes as read be confirmed. The motion was carried on the voices.

jg Mr. Allen raised an objection to the action of the Committee in increasing the Secretary's salary at an ordinary meeting, stating that such action was not in accordance with rule 15, which says that officers shall be appointed, and salaries fixed, at an anual meeting. He thought the best mode of procedure was to again advertise for a Secretary, if L 25 a year was found to be insufficient.

Mr. Fleming protested that the action of the Committee had been illegal. They were custodians of public money, and could not be so liberal with it as they might be were it their own. According to the rules, the act of raising an officer's salary was tantamount to re-election, because the salary being fixed at the time of appointment, any subsequent alteration in the amount of the salary meant that. The gentlemen that had moved and seconded the resolution had purposely absented themselves from last night's meeting. The whole affair had the appearance of being cut and dried, and he considered that, under the circumstances, Mr. Hardy should not have accepted the increase.

At this point, the debate became warm, several members objecting that unfair insinuations were made by Mr. Fleming as to the mode in which the Secretary's salaryhad been dealt with, and stating that the first intimation they had of the matter was in a letter which the Secretary had handed in.

Mr. Hardy said that the only persons to whom he had mentioned the matter were the President and Vice-President. Mr. Milligan testified to this statement. Mr. Fleming gave notice of motion, that he would move at the next monthly meeting, " That the resolution increasing the Secretary's salary be rescinded." The outward correspondence was read and approved, and the Visiting Committee's report was next dealt with. Some discussion followed in reference to the occupation of the Society's cottages. Mr. Paterson said that they were a disgrace to the Society. Mr. M'Farlane thought they ought to be pulled down, as they became vacant. Mr. Fleming would give the occupants a month's notice, and after that decide as to what further aotion should be taken.

Mr. Allen said that as they were nearly all built of concrete, the material, if they were demolished, would not be worth much.

Mr. Fleming said that the property could be advantageously leased if the cot-, tages were removed. Mr. Gibbs gave notice of motion that he would bring the whole subject of the cottages and grounds up for discussion at the next meeting. The Barrack Master's report for the month was read, in which it was stated that fifty-four immigrants had been received into the Depot, all of whom found ready employment. That twelve domestic servants had been admitted into the Servants' Home, and had obtained situations. He also said —" Tho Home for domestic servants has now been open a little over twelve months, and during that time 176 girls have taken advantage of it, and have readily obtained situations, the country ladies almost entirely depending on the Institution for their servants. I would bring under your notice that many of the girls who have taken advantage of the Home are most comfortably and respectably married." Accounts to the amount of L 45 lis 6d were passed for payment, and the usual vote of thanks accorded to the Chair, when the Committee adjourned.