BENEVOLENT INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 14

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTE.

The usual meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held on Wednesday afternoon, when there were present — Messrs W. T. Talboys (in the chair), A. E. Tapper, W. Burnett, J. Green, and the Hon. H. Gourley. Accounts amounting to £255 6s 8d were passed for payment. The Secretary reported the death of William Blaye, 73 years of age, on the 7th inst., from dropsy and heart disease. Donations of books and magazines were acknowledged from Dr Williams, the Waihola Library, Mr Price, Mrs Bush, and Mr Hay; also straw hats and magazines from Mr Houston. Mr Tapper brought under notice the case of a young woman recently admitted to the maternity ward of the Home, who said she had been engaged some months before as housekeeper to a man representing himself to be single, at a wage of 10s per week. She afterwards found out that her employer was a married man. She had received no wages, but after her admission to the Home her late employer had made inquiries respecting her through the telephone, and the man's wife^ had called to induce the girl to return to her employment as soon &a her condition permitted. The girl, it was alleged, refused to listen to the proposal, on the ground that she had been ill-treated. The girl's employer, while refusing to affirm or deny hijj responsibility

for the girl's condition, had offered to adopt \ the child, as he had none of his own. — The i Chairman said that in the event of the ' maintenance of the child falling on the institution proceedings might bo taken to recover arrears of wages due to the girl. ' A man who had been previously granted relief was brought up before tho trustees for further examination as to his means. He had stated previously that neither he nor his wife were able to do anything for their own support, and their son was only earn- | ing 25s per week when at work, and was , frequently out of employment. — Mr Burnett, who made inquiries, had since been informed that the son, as a Drainage Board J employee, had earned £25 4s 6d since , January last. — The Chairman reminded the applicant that the law oould compel his son I to support him, and said further that there j was reason to believe that the institution was being imposed upon by claimants not legitimately entitled to relief, and that it was their duty as trustees to make closer inquiries into all cases that were doubtful. — The applicant, before the trustees, stated that as far as he knew his former statements were correct, and that his son was at present out of employment and intended going to Auckland to look for work. — It was resolved to continue the amount of relief already granted j Thirty-eight applicants for relief were dealt with. j