LACK OF SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 245, 11 July 1921, Page 4

LACK OF SYSTEM

GRANTS TO SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS WORK OF PLUNKET SOCIETY “There appears to be no uniform system by which financial assistance has been given by the Government in' the way of grants to charitable societies and institutions,” states the Hospitals Com-mission-in its report. “Apparently each society on an application for assistance has received such grant as the Alinister thought fit at the moment. No scheme I or definite basis seems to have been ( adopted. The result is that the allocating of these grants is now in a state of confusion. Some societies for no apparent reason, get larger grants than others equally deserving. "Your commission recommends that a definite amount be voted each year, and distributed among the various societies upon tho recommendation •of tho respective hospital boards, having regard to the nature of the work carried’ out, the number of inmates and the amount of voluntary contributions received. Special considerat ion should bo given where the Government takes advantage of the services rendered, as in the case of inmates being committed to tho charge of institutions, or maternity institutions being used for training nurses. The district nursing carried out by St. John Ambulance Association and similar associations should be coordinated with the work of the local hospital boards so as to prevent overlapping. “The importance of the national work carried out so successfully by the Blanket Society justifies the financial ■ assistance given by the Government. This great organisation is engaged in the most important preventive work. By practical demonstrations and propaganda it has spread ite beneficial influence throughout and into the most remote parte of the Dominion. The country is the gainer. Healthy children means healthy adults who will be less likely to become a burden on the .hospitals and other such public institutions. "A’our commission considers that every encouragement should be given for the extension of the work, and that it will be to the advantage, both of the Government and tho society if two Government nominees are appointed to the society’s council. One should be a medical practitioner, and such representative should be the founder of the society, Dr. Truby King; and the other should be an officer of the Health Department with accountancy experience. ‘‘The commission is also very much impressed with the philanthropic work done by the Salvation Army with very little help from the -State, and recommends that it continue io receive, through its headquarters, financial assistance from the Government. “It is clear from the evidence given that very valuable work is being done by most of the charitable societies by means of voluntary service ns well ns of voluntary contributions. In the case of female rescue work and orphanages, in particular, the effect of the personal influence brought to bear is very great, and results are. achieved which cannot always be obtained hy more official organisations. Your commission feels stronglv that while care should to taken to avoid overlapping, nothing should be done to discourage the spirit of voluntary service in the coniniunitt.