CHARITY SUBSIDIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 6

CHARITY SUBSIDIES.

NO PROVISION*

A SERIOUS PREDICAMENT, POSITION OF HOSPITAL BOARD. Under tbe new system of administering public hospitals and charitable aid the Wellington Hospital Board has fallen heir to a financial obligation for which it has mado no provision. Having already drafted and authorised its estimates of oxpendituro for tho ensuing year—twomouths of which have passed—it has just discovered that it is expected. to subsidise tho efforts of semi-private institutions such as St. Mary's Guild, tho Presbyterian Orphanage, tho Salvation Army, and other similar bodies, which were, under the old system, subsidised by the Government. This legacy was discovered by the board at its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon, following upon a recommendation by tho Charitable Aid Committee that "in respect of the application of St. Mary's Guild for an annual grf ut for rescue work,' it had no recommendation to make. Board Should Control. The chairman of the Charitable Aid Committee (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), in amplification, of his committee's recommendation, explained that tbe application in question was from one of several institutions of the kind, and the committee felt that tho matter called for a comprehensive policy. Their grants had formerly been paid out of the Consolidated Fund, and an attempt was now being mado to get the board to pay them. If the board was .prepared to consider, the question, it should havo some control. ; Mr. It. C.. Kirk agreed with the general principles stated by Mr. M'Ewan. What ,he wanted to know was, if tho board itook no action, would tiles'!) people be- deprived of their subsidies "Lam .afraid that is so," replied Mr. M'Ewan. Mr. Kirk remarked that it was a pity the Government did not acquaint the board .with tho position beforo tho estimates were drafted. Had this been done, provision of some kind might have been considered, and some announcement of tho policy which' tho board might have thought out could havo been mado public. This was , a very important question, and'ho hoped that-the Government would be ablo to see its way clear to ussist the board in somo • way to meet the problem, if necesspry. Tho committee should not allow tho matter to rest at tho simple conclusion that it had no recommendation to make, but should pursue some line of inquiry with the object of seeing what could bo done. What of the Inmates? Mr. E. Fletcher concurred. Tho committee might ascertain what societies were under similar expectations in tho way of subsidies. ' The consequence, .to these bodies, would be disastrous if the 'matter ivere allowed to drop. '■Mr. M'Ewan assured the board that he had no .intention of allowing the matter to rest as it stood at present. Tho difficulty was that there was no provision. He quite agreed that it would be necessary to review the position, with the object of establishing somo system of control next year. This year, however, thero was nothing for it but to apply to the Government for a solution of the present difficulty. : . Mr. Jas. Godbcr ■ agreed that the board should requisition tho Government. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh said that they had to consider the position as it affected the inmates and dependents of these institutions. There was :no doubt fnat great hardship would ensue if nothing was done. Tho committee said that it had no recommendation to make. Well, said the speaker, it should have had a recommendation to make, and if it could not offer one then it should have postponed the matter till it had one. Either the board's estimates would have to bo revised, or a loan procured from the-'Government, or something, should be considered. "The board can't get out of its liabilities by saying that it 'didn't know about this,' and that it 'couldn't- help it.'"- Ho moved the postponement of the! question, pending further inquiry. - The motion was seconded.

"Devolution of Functions." The chairman of the board (Rev. W. A. Evans) suggested that the matter might be referred back to the committee, which might confer with the Department with the object of- establishing a modus vivendi for the present. The situation disclosed a devolution of functions to local bodies which tho latter had not yet been afforded an opportunity of grasping. Mrs. Richmond explained the old system as it affected the various benevolent institutions in the city. The position was that if these societies raised amounts equal to half, or more than half of their respective grants by private subscriptions, the grants were paid. The subsidies wero in the natnro of encouragements to private endeavour. The question was accordingly referred back to the committee for further consideration.