BENEVOLENT 'INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10307, 14 March 1895, Page 4

BENEVOLENT 'INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

The ordinary-meeting of tha'BencvolentlusU- I tutipn Trustees, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs -X Chisholm (chairmai-), W. Swan, W; Bridgman, C. Allah, £.- Haynes, A. Solomon, J. Green, M.H.R.. and H. Gourley. CllAl-Oas'AGAINST INSPECTOR, FAVKI.I., A letter, ds.reu February 2a, was received from i Mrs Franoes Howie, who requested the trustee--, to ; hold an inquiry into charges which she wished to bring agaiust the inspector, Mr Fay-IK She had laid im information for assault asainst him, but tbere was evidence which she wished to produce i which would not be admitted in a court of law. The ChaiuA-AN said tint the trustees were aware that the charge of assault, had .'already been dealt with by the court, la regard to Mrs llowis's request for an inquijy he suggested that a committee should be set up to inquire, iuto th« whole case. Both sides should ba allowed to bring any evidence beyond what was given in court. Mr Solomon was of opinion that the trustef s as a whole should co Into the matter. Ho believed thi* inspector courted rh-> fullest inquiry. Mr Favell expressed a wish that'..t,e trustees should make a full inquiry into the charges. He was anxious for this, more especially as Mrs Howie had been going round smce the court case : trying to get women—wosuen who were receiving relief, and others who-.-* relief was stopped— to trump up cjis.s ugainst'him. .He had evidence which was not admissible in court, but which could be given at an inquiry, and he was there-, '; fore desirous-.bat one should beheld.

Mr-Green s*id that a court of the hind having arrived at a decision mhcerning the woman's complaint, ("ur-.Jy.ihe trustees ought to bo satisfied. Were they going to .it and review the decision of a judcial bench ? ,

Mr tiiun-MAN thought .the trustees should be satisfied with the finding'of the court. 'lhe CiiAHiMA-f said that in. an inquiry.they would he able to h?ar evidence which was not i<dinissU'!e iv the court. As both parties were -.•■-irons of "au, inquiry, it was prtper, in, the interests of the public, that an inquiry should be

Mr Haynes doubted whether, the woman'would go on vith her cn-se.

Mr t-'oi-OMON S'iid his view of the matter coincided **ith Mr Green*-, but'it w»a not advisable thnt they ,-lioiild leave tho slightest loophole to allow people to nay that the t.-ust,e_s ham barked the fuil-st; inquiry, le.?al evidence or otherwise. Bnth sides wished for an inquiry, and it would not bs wise for tho trustees to deny the request. Mr Gou._r.pY f aid it was evid-jnt to his mind from the report; of the court case that Ml- Faveli's character had been' cleared, and for his mart he did not see what good an inquiry would do. He '-..<! not scj-tbati-thtpr inspector could stand any better than he did now.

Sir _.W(_,', thought the trustees should have an inquiry to satisfy themselves, independent of the court ease.

Mrßi.i-GMAN thought the public generally were quite sa'isfied that the inspector's.character was clear. . ' - - V Mr Haynes would not object to au inquity, seeing tbat Mr Favell.had reported to them that Mrs Howie was trying to injure him.

Mr Allan thought it was the duty of the trustees to hold aii. inquiry. After fun..ci' di«e.n^sion, Mr Solomon moved— "That Mrs Howie be informed/that tlie trustees will meet on Tuesday next, at half-past 2, when they will be prepared'to. hear.any evidence she may bring forward beyond wha.t was produced in the Folic* Court bearing on; Mr FttveH's conduct as inspector." . ' '. ' '-.--..,

: Mr Swan seconded the motion, which was carried, Messrs Green and,Gourley dissenting.-

At a later stage of the meeting.a letter was read .from the Rev. Bryan MJ King, of St Petei's Church, Caver-ham,. with regard to a certainrelief case. The writer added: ** It may interest tbe trustees to learn that in the election by b.-llot of a committee of our literal') club their -.-.-pector was elected in his absence'at the head of the poll for a seat on th. committee.. I congratulate the trustees on the result of the late case against .their inspector, which resulted iv estab- | lishing on a firmer basis thau ever the con-i-ene* iv /Mr -.'..veil's character, earned by years of upright conduct in a mogt difficult position." ' THE TRUSTEES' I.NA*-CES. The CilAiitMA*. stated, in regard to the estimates for next year's , expenditure, that the Finance Committee had carefully gone into the whole matter, and had reoinuiended that the trustees should apply for a sum of -£10.500, which was _£50i) in excess of last year's application. The committee estimated tbat the cost for outdoor relief for the year about to linish would bo £7aOS. Last year the cost was £0152, and the figures thus showed an increase for this year of £150. The committee, considering these 'matter-, were of opinion, that tt: wouli take fully £500 to meo, .next year's requirements. .. . Mr Gourley thought that .the trustees would find that fhey wouli requite a larger sum than i £10,500. In his ooinion they ..should apply for ■J211..1U!-. " ..'.'.-.' Thu CiiAiiutAN said thnt of course the question -.van whether the demands on their funds were j likely to be the same as last ycur, and whether the trustees would dual as liberally with them asthey bad been doing. It was evident to the Finance Committee, that, somehow or other, the expenditure was creeping up. not i-ecanse of the increased cases, but because of Va-, incrc-S-d amount being given in relief. That bciusso, they thought >,ome effort should be made to kesp down the expenditure as far nspossibl^ to make it coui» wixhiii the income. He added that som-j yt_u,r_i at*-.* ..-here was a sudden increase iv the txpenuiuuv. and the trustees going into the matter very carefully and inquiring into every c__e managed to reduce the expenses by £1000. , .. ■ . .after further discussion it was decided to apply to the Charitable Aid Board for £10,500. A number of relief cases were then dealt with.