BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 3

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The annual meeting ef contributors and life governors of tho Otago Benevolent Institution was held at the Town Hull on tho 10th inst. Mr K. Cniaholm presided, and the followiug gentlemen wore also present:—Messrs H. i. Hardy, J. Green, A. Solomon, W. Bridgman, f}. Colder, W. Wright, W. Swan, A. H. Burton, J. Carrol', V. Coull, C. H&ynes, J. Hobeita, Colin Allt-a, W. Patrick, A. Hurt, W. Elder, H. S. Fish, Dr Coughtrey, aud the Hon. I W. Downie Stewart. The following report was sabmitted: — The total number of persons rolieved during the rear was 3HU, an increase of 478 on the previous year' Men. Women. Child'n. Old aud pant work ... 81 44 — lH:^f ed t. hroUS. h 109 m :;% I "Want of work 01 S8 32'J Widows — 188 522 Uißcrtod wives — 70 257 j lllßsiurnate — « 30 U.usbnnds in gaol ... — C 20 j Husbands in lunatic j asylums — 3 8 j Children boarded out... — — 25 j Casually relieved ... 53 105 KlB Totals 310 711 2122 The number of inmate 3on Ist January 1894 was 172 men, 68 women, and 4 children ;—total, 234 Received into the institution during the year: 120 men, 4ti women, and 9 children ;—total, 170, including 17 woineu admitted to the lying-in ward. Discharged : 112 men, 39 women, and 11 children:—total, 162, leaving on 31st Decembor 1894, ISO men, 65 women, and 2 children ;—total, 217. forty deaths occurred during the year. The expenses of the institution amounted to £3ci47 *s Bd. The expenses for maintenance amounted to £352b' 15s tid, an increase on the previous year of £208 10s Id. The charges are for cost of food, clothing, fuel, house furnishings, salaries of master, matron, servants, and doctor, medicine, funerals, municipal rates, and all working expenses except secretary's and inspector's saUry, office rent, and stationery. The weekly average was 244, which gives a charge of 53 fijd per head i>er week. The amount disbursed on outdoor relief was £7377 8s 5(1, an increase of £701103 M on that of the previous year. This includes j the payment of £318 14s on occount of children I boarded out. The total amount expended was £11,805 IBs 3d, as against £10,72119s 7d in 1893, an increase of £1083 10s Bd.

The balance sheet shows that the contributions amounted to £233, tho i-Jovernnieut subsidy to £107, while £2i5 was received from inmates, and £10,165 was raised by the United Districts Board, waking the gross receipts (inclusive of £2!W brought forward) j£U,SM)9. The principal items of expenditure were : Groceries, tec., £2960 ; clothing, £473; house furnishings, £124; salaries aud wages, £7t>S; fuel, £285; insurance, £200. The balance in the bank is £103.

The Chaieman said: This thirty-second annual report of the trustees which is now submitted for your approval is, I think, in itself explicit and characterised by a sameness to the reports which have been submitted and approved by you annually. It is riot necessary that I should delay you at any length in moving ils adoption. The tirst matter likely to strike you on looking orer the report is the amount expended during the year in outdoor relief. The amount, as you will see, shows an increase on the previoui year of £701 10s 9d, due to the number of persons relieved being greatly in j excets oE the previous year. "While that is so, a reference to the number of persons that have received outdoor relief, as well as the amount I disbursed in that connection during past years, 1 Khow that the present year is not exceptional. j Taking the figures in tabulated form since the introduction of " The Charitable Institutions Act 1885," they run thus: No. of Per- • At a Total sods Reliaved. Cost of 18S6 293S £6158 I&S7 3734 0027 18S8 4050 7117 I ISB9 ... _. 3145 0742 ! 1890 ... „. 3397 6117 1891 3«0 7595 18»2 3245 6558 18U3 2667 6675 1894 3143 7377 It will thus bo seen, when the nature of the cases ia considered, that the present year does not compare unfavourably with past years. That the trustees have a moat difficult tusk in dealing with such a number of applications far outdoor relief goeß without saying, and is best known to those who for come years hare acted in that capacity. And so long as oar present system of dispensing charitable aid continues it will be difficult tafind a more effectual method of checking imposture than that now adopted. The merit of every case, after being fally reported upon by the inspector (in writing), is carefully considered by the trustees, and relief to 11 very limited extent extended to those only who they have reason to believe are in dixo need. The increase in the number of persona relieved, as well as in tha amount disbursed during the year, is no doubt due to a great extent; to the extreme difficulty experienced by many persons in finding employment. In this connection, the Pelichet Bay Improvement Committee are to be commended for their effort in assisting the trustees to find employment for a number who otherwise would have been a charge upon tho institution. You will also see from the report, as might reasonably be expected, that the number of inmates at the institution, C&veroham, is increasing year by year. In 1888 the number was 144, maintained at a cost of 8s 8d per head. This year the number is 244—an increase of 100—at a cost per head of 53 6Ad, which compares favourably with past years. This increase in the number of inmates has necessitated heavy outlay in providing accommodation ; and while the chairman, at your last annual meeting, acquainted you that the trustees had provided additional accommodation in the shape of a substantial brick addition at a cost of £1096, your trustees have found it necessary to provide further accommodation this year, and have in course of erection a building capable of accommodating 52 beds, besides a reading and other necessary roomu, at a cost of £1744, which they think will meet the requirements of the institution for several years hence. In conclusion, I need only add that the officers under the trustees, in their respective places, continue to give entire satisfaction.

Messrs W. Brown, Charles Haynes, and H. S. Fish were nominated as trustees; but Mr Fish, who was proposed by Mr Solomon, declined to accept nomination. The remaining two were accordingly declared elected.