OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7004, 28 July 1884, Page 3

OTAGO BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

A conference was held on Saturday morning in Mr J. P. Maitland'a office, between members ef the Benevolent Institution Committee and the city and suburban members of Parliament, with respect to proposed additions to the Asylum at Caversham. The following members of Committee were present:—Mr It. B. Martin (president), General Fulton, General Irvine, Ainger, Gourley, Rennie, and Shaw. The following members of Parliament were present-.—Messrs 3. B. Bradsbaw, W Barron, A. H. Ross, W. D. Stewart, and R. Stout.

Mr Martin said that the existing buildings at Caversham were inadequate and unsuitable, and there would ba great danger of loss of life in the event of fire. . The Committee wero therefore desirous to get the assistance of membars of .Parliament in urging upon Government the necessity of aiding in the erection of additional buildings. In order to accommodate the inmates the Committee were obliged to rent three cottages, and the amount thus paid would be quite sufficient to pay interest on the money required for the erection of additions. Some time ago application had been made to the Hon. Mr Dick for an increase of the Govern-, ment pound-for-pound subsidy. The Government had replied stating that in consideration of the liberal manner in which the Otago people had subscribed for charitable purposes, the Government would increase the subsidy to £2 for every pound subscribed locally until there was a sufficient sum available for the erection of the new building. It was calculated that £1600 would be required to build the proposed addition. In Canterbury nearly the whole cost of charitable institutions was borne by the Government. In the course of a conversational discussion, Mr Gourley said he thought it was time that the country as a wholo was rated for the support of charitable institutions. It waa unjust that the whole cost should be borne by the charitably disposed. Mr Stout pointed out the daDger of creating a pauper class by giving a right to relief. Mr Martin said that danger was already seen in the administration of outdoor relief by the Institution.. The people almost insisted upon it as a right.

Mr Ross Baid they had several cases of the kind in connection with the work given by the Harbour Board to the unemployed. One ablebodied man refused to go on with his work, and another knocked off because he got wet in a shower of rain. He thought the outdoor relief system should be looked into.

ilr Stewart thought that if all the members were placed iv possession of the facts they would do their best to further the interests of the Institution.

Mr Martin said he would have copies of the correspondence between *he Committee and the Government circulated. There were many parsons in the Asylum who had no right to be there They were not exactly lunatics, but they ought not to be in the Benevolent Institution.

Mr BkaBSHAw Eaid the same remark applied to the Lunatic Asylum. There were many there who ought to be in the 'Benevolent Institution.

Mr Stout said that the late DrHulmo had pointed out long ago that many inmates of the Hospital were people who would ba in the poorhouse at Home.

Mr Barron said that if the Committee made a specific application to the Government for £1600 he would be prepared to support it.

The Committee invited those present to visit the Institution on Tuesday next to inspect the buildings.