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subsidy of £800 granted by the Government> provided an equal amount was
raised in vo luntary subscriptions ; assistance was given mainly in food >
clothing > fuel and other necessaries of life > great care being taken by
the officers of the society to investigate every application for relief
in order to prevent imposition on its funds .
Formed to meet a desperate
need in the community the Society quickly won support and respect for its
work.
management;
Right from the start> Hall was prominent in the charity 's
on November 18> 1859> he was elected to a General Committee
of twenty-four laymen responsible for conducting the business;
at its
first quarterly meeting on January 9> 1860> he set the seal of liberalism on
its deliberations by proposing and carrying a resolution that the press be
freely admitted to general and executive meetings ;
he was also elected to
an Executive Committee of not more than seven memb ers whose duty it was to
meet once a week> or oftener > to grant relief. At the beginning of 1861
he was elected its Chairman> a position of responsibility and influence
which he held by annual election> with only a small break in 1868> for
almost twenty years .
Actually> the founding of the Benevolent Society was an event
of major importance in Hall 's life: not only did it open up an acceptab le
avenue of expression for his philanthropic ideals> but it also offered
accredited means by which he could work for social reform > whilst at the
same time ensuring him some personal success > prestige and gratification;
in return he gave the Society dedicated service until the end of his life :
briefly> he compiled its statistics > wrote annual reports to Parliament
and many vo luminous communications to the Executive Government > led
deputations > including those to a succession of Governors successfully
seeking their patronage> kept a watchful eye on its depot and soup kitchen
and > last but by no means least> frequently visited the sick and destitute
and interviewed applicants for relief.
At a meeting of the General
Committee on July 14> 1862> Kennerley> Member of Parliament and the
present Mayor > spoke of Hall 's service to the Society.
The Society had received the greatest possible assistance
from Dr Hall and next to their financial assistant (a paid
emp loyee E.H.) he had been the great worker in the Society.
If any fault was to be found with Dr Hall> it was th is> he
was too liberal - he was for giving more rations than they
thought they cou ld afford. A more liberal, more generous>
or a more kinder-hearted man than Dr Hall never breathed . 3
3
Mercury, July 15> 1862.