HOSPITAL FINANCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 8 May 1902, Page 2

HOSPITAL FINANCES.

PROPOSAL TO HOLD A BALL,

At the meeting of the . Hospital Trustees last evening, Mr Johnston asked whether any provision was made for the wiping oft of the overdraft. The secretary said that by the'end of the year that would be wiped oft in the ordinary oourse. Mr Warren said that a charitable aid rate was staring the people in the face,' They could not go on trenching on the' road money in the way they were doing. ‘ ‘ MrHarding said he was of the same opinion. In a year or two they would need to do something, ‘ Mr Warren said that they would have two or three strong men who would say that they would not have this kind of tiling much longer. "- t _ Mr Plarding : Then what are you to do ?_. Mr Warren : Strike a rate for it. It. was, he added, easy enough to talk rate, but not so easy to get it, Mr Harding said that everything had been increasing in the past year or two.

Air Johnston said that last year they had had to have 14 beds extra. The Chairman said that they would not be so far behind, if it were not for the new buildings. Later on Mr Harding said he Considered that during the year an effort should be made to obtain money from > the public. He suggested a ball, The ball last year had-oeen very success-' ful. Of course the success was largely, due to the ladies who had taken the matter up. If they decided on anything of the kind the Trustees would need to work their hardest.

The Chairman said that - there had been eagerness among those outside the Trustees to make the ball on the

24th of Alay ail annual allair. Unfortunately many of those who talked most about keeping the ball going do not give any active assistance. It was left to the same people each year, which was unfair. They might takq the King’s Birthday, but they would not be able to get Messrs .Williams and Kettle’swool stores. If they could put the same energy irto it’he believed that more could be done by seeking for direct subscriptions. .The public had not neen approached for

some tirfce directly for funds, If a ball were decided on he would do all

he could to assist, but was just ex-

pressing his opinion on the subject. If. they could have got the wool-shed* he would have ■ advised co-operation so as to have the affair as a wind-up to the Coronation celebrations. Mr Warren said that if they could not get the building that would settle that point. If they could make any, arrangement for the carting of the linseed to the drill-shed and storing it there for a time, they might be able to do something.

The Chairman said he had been told

that the wool-shed was full of linseed, and the drill-shed would not hold ifo In any case he did not favor a ball as against direct subscriptions. '

Air Harding said that by a ball they got something from people who other-’ ' wise would never give^ Mr Johnston said “ that collecting . meant that the same people in the blocks would have to contribute, it was the same people every time, 'flic fairest arrangement that could be made had been done. They simply had to get the funds through the Charitable Aid Board. The Chairman said that was the most comfortable way for them to get it. If they could not get a certain sum the Charitable Aid Board would take over control of affairs. If they, were going to do anything they should do it soon. •> -

Mr Johnston said i f they collected they should have an organised canvass, Mr Harding said that he could sur-’ prise the Trustees with the names of people who declared that they would not give anything directly. He thought: that they might call a'meeting for next week to consider what should be

done.

It w‘as agreed'-.that the Chairman should, if he thought it desirable, call fa asetos £oe uwt siseifj