BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES. Plain and Practical Remarks. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 46

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

Plain and Practical Remarks. TO THE EDITOR.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held on Wednesday, 7th inst., was attended by Messrs A. Solomon (chairman), C. Allan, R. Wilson, R. Watson, and J. Green. Accounts amounting to £472 12s 8d were pasßed for payment. The Secretary reported that Robert Smith, aged 65 years, died in the institution duriDg the week. The outdoor relief book for the month of June showed that 405 cases had been dealt with — representing 178 men, 298 women, and 612 children— at a total cost of £107 19s 6d per week. For the corresponding month, of last year the cases numbered 485 — representing 198 men, 374 women, and 939 children — at a total cost of £145 15s 9d per week. — The Chairman remarked that there were 80 less cases this month — 20 less men, 76 less women, 327 less children, and the cost was £37 16s less. That position, he thought, was highly satisfactory. About 47 relief cases were then dealt -with.

Sir,— l notice that "T. M.," of Glen Murray, Auckland, has a letter under the above heading in your issue of July 1. lam sorry for him. His letters ought to be suppressed— prohibited. I am surprised that the National Associations don't tak e action in thu matter, and have him sup. preyed, as he makes such an exposure of their whole policy. He lays it open and bare whereever the Witness is read ; and it makes a ghastly spectacle indeed. Its policy is supposed to be a secret ; but "T. M." lets it out in one short letter. His simplicity is tremendous. "T. M." has simply beaten the "record" this time, as he has written a whole letter without having one i sensible sentence in it. "T. M." is a most useful man to me, however, as he furnishes me with a real good text. He sets up his idol for me to shoot at and demolish. Thanks, "T. M." This is not the ftrht contest we have had. I demolished both him and his idol on a former occasion in the Chvistian Outlook ; but he keeps bobbing up like a bad penny. He begins his letter by saying—" It seems to an ordinary mortal that the trend of public opinion should be to tax the country to borrow money to buy up productive estates like Ardgowau." It is true that the trend of public opinion is to buy big estates, but not to tax the country for that purpose. Those Avho now occupy the Ardgowaa estate pay the interest on the money borrowed to purchase the estate. "T. M." ought to know this ; and if he does, then he clearly wishes to mislead your readers. "T. M." further declares that by close settlement of the land it Trill greatly reduce our exports and throw a great; mauy men. out of work. This is where "T. M." gives me the •pportunity. He never seems to think that I am still living, and that I read the Witness. Ardgowan will now have some 380 more people on, it since trie Government bought it. It will ba more intensely cultivated, will give double the produce, and will give employment to scores of people besides. Sixty-3even houses will have to be built, besides stables and barns, and then a full set of farm implements for 67 farms and school houses will have to be procured ; and yefc "T. M." declares that by the purchase of such estates people are thrown out of employment. Now, I would aßk " T. M." where are the unemployed ? They are nearly a thing of the past so far as New Zealand is concerned, and it is all accomplished by this very policy of settling the people on the land ; and this, as I have shown, gives work to scores of others as well. All those people all over the South Island who send up petitions to the Minister for Lands asking him to buy big estates think otherwisa. They think that it will greatly increase our products. They expressly say so in their petitions — " to give prosperity to their diistrict," they say. What I mo3t dislike in "T. M." is his inhuman ity. For the sake of the Australian Land Company (who ever that may mean) being compelled to sell a portion of its land at a fftir value he would crowd live or six hundred families into a bog about Blueskin or send them wandering all over the Australian colonies as his party did eight or nine years ago. ( It is clear that " T. M." has no sons of his own to need land, but I would like to ask him if he thinks he can make the_ farmers' sons throughout New Zealand believe in his doctrine — that it is better for a few individuals to own all the laud and that they (the young New Zealanders) should have no land. When Horace Greeley, the " great journalist," announced that he was about to issue the first number of that great newspaper the New York Tribune, he declared that "he would give the present Administration a general support only so far an they hhall Fesin calculated to subserve the great end of all governments— the welfare of the people." I agree thoroughly with Greeley. But "T. M." thinks that the great end of all governments should be the welfare of a few wealthy men and land_ monopilists. He is too narrow-minded, and his thoughts should never appear in print. - ' But I am wasting time and occupying too much of your valuable space over a law that has come to stay lam eorry that "T. M." cannot keep pace with the onward march of colonial progress, and that he regrets apparently that he at any rate ever left the fleshflots of Egypt for this new world of freedom and equality. "T. M." is decidedly inclined to be a pessimist, and looks to the future with forebodings and gloom. On the other hand, I am a real optimist, and imagine I can see in the near future faster railway travelling ; all the second-class carriages nicely cushioned, and in consequence thereof much additional comfort ; twice as many passengers travelling aa there are at pre-ent, and at reduced fares ; all railway tariffs reduced by one-third— and then a reduction of taxation will follow. And all this will come through ihe policy which "T. M." condemns.— l am, &c, Otamita, July 9. R. DoddS.