THE CO-OPERATIVE WORKS AND BENEVOLENT AID.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 17 March 1896, Page 6

THE CO-OPERATIVE WORKS AND BENEVOLENT AID.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l observe a losal in yonr issue of yesterday's date alleging that Mr Farnie, labour agent, assarts that a statement I made at the meeting of tha Benevolent Trustees last Wednesday—viz., "Tnat tha wives of some of the men employed by the Government were receiving aid, alleging that their husbands did not send them sufficient to keep them ani thair families without such aid"—"is not correct." I also notice that yon express a hope in your leading columns of the issue of this day's cUte that Mr Farcie is correct I also sincerely wish, in the interests of the ratepayers and tha trao interest* of the recipients, that Mr, Furnifi's assertion should be the correct on«. But ao a trustee I know the contrary to be the fact. Why, Sir, at the lasb meeting some applications of the same kind were made and granted ; and while I did not say such applications were common, I do say they are not uncommon, and s&ould be unknown under the belauded system of co-operative works, now so long in vogue in this colony.

I have written to the chairman of the Benevolent Trustees, requesting him to be pleased to submit a report setting out the numbers who are in receipt of relief and who allege that their husbands are employed on the Government works. Trusting that the report will.be ready and laid before the trustee's at their next meeting, when official faces and figures will be at your command for the enlightenment of the public,—l »m, &c,

Woodend, Waitati, March 14. J. Greek.