Charitable Aid. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 31

Charitable Aid. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In looking over the reports of the Benevolent Institution, a person is struck by the everincreaßing demand on the institution, and led to consider where it will stop, or to what dimensions it will grow, unless some remedy is found. In casting about for some reason for so much destitution in a country in which writers say there exists no Teal poverty, one is led to ask, What are the chief contributing" causes at work ? and also, Is there not a want of independence in accepting charity ? It must be an acknowledged fact that strong drink is the most potent factor, followed by gambling and amusements, such as theatres, Ac. Well, Sir, should charitable aid not be part of a charge against such ? Tax beer and spirits— let so much be ear-marked in the collection of the duties — and also totalisator and theatre tickets. This will ease the strain on the resources of many a struggling though independent settler, and put the burden on the backs of those whose trade is a direct cause of the majority of cases dependent on or assisted by ch»»ity. There seems to be an utter want of shame in the acceptance of what is called charity, and the system seems to be congenial to the production of that species of man the sturdy beggar, who seems to take as a prescriptive right what many a needy but honest man would rather starve than Accept. There can be no doubt there are cases of gross imposition— vide the musical family. Many a hardworking man has to contribute through the borough and county councils saving and striving to make ends meat, and possibly to help some who are more comfortable than he is himself. Trusting some abler pen than mine will take the matter in hand, and thanking you in anticipation^ — I am, *c, ' J. D. North Taieri, May 26.

A lady has been appointed official visitor at the Auckland Lunatic Asylum at a salary of £24- per annum, or £2 per visit. Ab Newmarket, Victoria, a boy named Henry Cuffe died from a blow with a hammer thrown by an athlete. Mr Piiulin reports that the rainfall during last month (May) amounted to l'26in at Opoho and to l'3sin on Signal Hill, rain falling on 13 days. Mr J. C. Martin, S.M., has decided that a man must be held to be drunk, no matter how small the quantity of liquor he may have imbibed, so long as the liquor* caused him to act to the public annoyance in such a way as he would not have dene had he not taken any.