THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10619, 14 March 1896, Page 3

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

TO THE BDITOB,

Sis,—-The demand by tha Benevolent Institution Trustaea for aa additional sum of £1000 from the local bodies for the ensuing year will draw the attention of the public in a very disagreeable way to the working of the present system. The annual demand has been continually increasing, and now seems to be increasing by leaps and bounds. On many occasions the tendency of the present system to pauperise the community has been pointed out, bat as yet no effectual remedy has been applied. It seems to me that one of the greatest blots on the present system is that one body spends the money while other bodies are responsible for raising it. Any system of administration framed on this principle seems to ms to ba foredoomed to failure. Then by the system of ontdoor relief we &re rearing a race of hereditary paupers, whose whole up-bringing and training will make thorn look on public charity a? a right, and will be an effectual preventive to such a spirit of independence as used to characterise our Otago settlers. The members of the board themselves seem to feel that some change is imperative, and it is to be hoped that some salutary change will be mads before the community gets compktely leavened by the spirit of pauperism.—l am, &c., Danedia, March 11. Alex. C. Beso.