The Globe. THURSDAY JULY 4, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1368, 4 July 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY JULY 4, 1878.

Though tho Government may have congratulated themselves that the difficulties arising from their desire to bo relieved from the duty of the administration of charitable aid had disappeared, they appear to have reckoned without their host. Tho latest

phase of the question which has been discussed for some considerable time is the appointment of a Board. The Government propose to hand over to this Board the administration of charitable aid and the supervision of the Hospital. Of the gentlemen nominated by the Government the Chairman of tho County Council lias declined to act. Tho other gentlemen liave mot, but matters do not appear to go on with that smoothness which no doubt tho Government expected would ho tho result of the appointment of the Board. The Board have joined issue with the Government as to the restrictions which the latter seek to put upon the Board in tho matter of expenditure. They are limited to a certain sum per month, calculated upon the expenditure during the year just ended. Now from the evident desire of tho Government to substitute local control for the system which has prevailed up to June 30th. it is only fair to draw the conclusion that they consider the administration would at least be as efficiently conducted as by their own officer. This being so, tho Board very naturally ask why tho Government should seek to restrict them in the matter of tho expenditure of funds. Under tho system ceasing on tho 30th Juno the administrator of charitable aid expended the money voted by tho Assembly at his discretion, subject, of course, to the usual Govermental supervision. But no such power is given to tho Board. They are told, “ Here is a certain sum per month for your expenditure. You must make this do.” The Government place the Board in this position by the action they have taken, that should any emergency arise, either with respect to tho administration of charitable aid or tho Hospital, tho responsibility of providing the extra funds necessary would be cast upon the Bomb Where, however, those funds are to bo procured from, the Government do not say. If such a state of things wera to arise here as would induce a very heavy demand upon tho resources of the charitable aid department, or an epidemic cause a large influx of patients to the Hospital, the Board would be in no position to deal with them as regards funds, unless private benevolence came to their aid. Of course it would do so, but still, the Board more particularly dealing, as it does, with our money, should have absolute discretion as to the expenditure of the funds necessary. The next point raised though incidentally—As one of considerable importance. It is, wo think, pretty clear that whether legislation takes place this session or not, tho Government do not intend to have anything further to do with tho administration of charitable aid. This being so, some machinery must he provided for doing the work locally, and this will doubtless take the form of a Board. The question then arises whether the Board should he elective or nominated. Tho opinion of the members of the present Board is most decidedly in favour of tho former, and wo are inclined to agree with this view. The Board aro to have the distribution of money, essentially the property of the locality in a work which is also of purely local interest. This being so, it seems to us that for such a Board distributing funds as stated to he nominated by the Government is undesirable. They would, in such a case, though dealing directly with tho money of the ratepayers, not be responsible in any way to them, nor would the latter have any voice in the administration of a system in which they are deeply interested. Of course the discussion of tho question as to nomination or election depends upon whether the Government adhere to their determination of handing the administration of charitable aid over to the local bodies. * The intentions of the Government regarding tho laud fund due to Canterbury on December 31st have at last been plainly announced. Mr. J. L. Wilson lias received a telegram from tho Treasury, in Wellington, stating that tho sum available is £47,668 0s 6d. Government have consequently retained, out of tho £315,000, the sum of £267,331 19s 6d. Legal proceedings will uo doubt be taken at once to try and make those “ highway robbers” disgorge their plunder.