THE KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25173, 13 March 1943, Page 2

THE KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND

Sir,—l desire to invite public attention to the dispensation of the fund that was collected for the sole purpose of sustaining the homes of the miners who lost their lives in the explosion at Kaitangata on February 21, 1879, and of helping the widows to rear, clothe, feed, and educate the many orphans who were rudely deprived of a father’s care and protection. The amount raised was sufficient to meet all those needs if the fund had been properly administered, but it was not. A widow with eight children, the eldest of whom was 10 years, received 30s per week. One with fewer children—even with two children—got the same, It was utterly impossible to sustain the larger family on that amount. At that time there were no insurance or compensation laws, and the fund was provided for those who were widowed and orphaned by that explosion alone. It was given spontaneously, and it was hoped that it would be given to the widows and their children as generously as the people had given, but those who handled the fund thought and acted differently. When the aid was reduced to £ 1 per week about seven years after the explosion the cry of the widow fell on deaf ears, no matter what they represented in the way of hardship. In 1892 the fund was taken by the Government and went into the Public Trustee’s hands. It was at this time that Mr Seddon took £4OOO from our fund to form a nucleus of a fund to provide relief in the event of other mining accidents, and reduced the amount to each widow to 13s 4d per week. At this time we petitioned Parliament to get justice. Many of the then Opposition members fought in support of the petition, but Mr Seddon and his party carried the day, much to the discredit of the Government. Some years elapsed, until only eight widows remained to receive 13s 4d a week. I was sorry for them, and I set to work and was instrumental, with the assistance of the late Sir James Allen, in having the payment raised to 16s 8d per week. Even that was not sufficient for them to live in any comfort. The widows were not even receiving as much as the interest on the capital of the fund yielded. Now, Sir, the remainder of the fund is ours by right and justice, and should be finally paid out to every orphan who remains, no matter what his or |

her circumstances. Many could do with it and not waste it either, but it would enable them to have a little comfort in their declining years. Our present Government has been exceedingly generous to all classes of workers, Whv not be a little generous to the Kaitangata orphans of February 21, 1879, and pay out the remainder of the fund that belongs to them.—l am, etc., An Orphan. Whakatane, March 2. "UNCLE SCRIM" REINSTATED Sir,—The cast-out prodigal son has returned. Members of our Cabinet give another exhibition showing their willingness to eat their own words. One cannot but meditate on the words contained in a verse in 2 Peter ii.—l am, etc., Ajax. Oamaru, March 6. J