HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1958, 3 June 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

[By Tblkgeaph.]

fPEOSI OTJE own COEEBSPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 2,

The Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions Bill contains eighty-five clauses. It repeals existing Acts and Provincial Ordinances on the subject. It is not to apply to lunatic asylums and reformatory institutions. By Order in Council, hospital and charitable aid districts may be established, altered or abolished. Hospitals and charitable institutions to be brought under the Act. Local grants in aid will bo fixed in proportion to the contribution by local bodies. The persons or body administering the affairs of any hospital or charitable institution shall continue to administer the same until the coming into office of the first board elected under this Act. Hospitals and charitable aid boards to be elected ; the first election to be by the contributory local bodies. After tho first election, subscribers are entitled to vote. The Governor shall appoint a time for tho meeting, and any person qualified to be elected as a member of a County Council, Borough Council, or Road Board, or qualified as a subscriber, shall be eligible to be elected as a member of the Board. Councils or contributory local bodies'to have one vote for a contribution up to £IOO, two for £2OO, three up to £350, four up to £SOO, five exceeding £SOO. The scale of votes to be given by any contributory local body is to be estimated after the rate of contribution has been appointed by the Governor in Council, to be paid by such body for the year next ensuing. If two or more contributory local bodies together contribute a sum less than £IOO, they will be reckoned as one such body for the purposes - of the Act, and may vote at any election. Machinery is provided for election by local bodies and subscribers, both by ballot. A member to retire; shall bo eligible for re-election ; the Board to agree what members shall retire. In case the Board fails to agree to the proportion of retiring members, the Governor shall decide equitably. The annual election is to supply the vacancies. If tho election is not held or is invalid the Governor may appoint that the acts of the Board shall not be void for their informality. New districts may be constituted, and the liabilities, apportioned between the Board and the new districts. Tho Colonial Secretary may appoint an arbitrator if the Board cannot agree, and tho award so made is to be final. The Board is to be incorporated, and is to have the management and control of hospitals and charitable institutions and tho distribution of charitable aid, with power to delegate the management in certain cases. By-laws may be provided for the election or partial election of committees for that purpose. The by-laws are to set forth the terms and conditions of management, and may also regulate the elections of the committee. The Board may establish and regulate branch hospitals and institutions. Tho Board can make grants for outdoor relief, and may attach conditions for such grants. The Board is to appoint the medical staff, assistants, nurses, &0., with power to remove medical officers, &c It may appoint a secretary and other officers, and fix the salaries of officers. It has power

to make contracts, sign and seal the same. Contracts above £2O are to be by public tender. A composition upon a breach of contract may be made if advisable. Real and personal property to vest in the Board, the property to be hold on the same trusts as before. Outstanding debts are payable to the Board, and outstanding liabilities by the Board, Contracts, agreements, &c., may be enforced by or again st the Board, but members are not personally responsible. Lands reserved may be granted to Boards, also lands reserved previously to

this Act being brought into force. The Board has power to lease lands, the leases to be sold at auction, and the proceeds to go to the funds. The Board may acquire lands, &0., by grant, bequest, &c,, and may utilise lands for hospitals, &c, .By-laws may be given for the renewal of agreements, printed copies thereof to be evidence. A copy of the by • laws is to be posted in

a conspicuous place. The Governor may disallow by-laws, which must be consonant with public law. The penalty for breach of the by-laws is £lO or three months’ imprisonment. Contracts for maintenance in a hospital or charitable institution may be entered into. Persons receiving relief are liable for the same, or a near relation is liable to contribute. The public trustee is to contribute in certain leases. Hospital and charitable aid is to consist of moneys arising from grants by the General Assembly or contributory local bodies, donations, subscriptions, rents, interest, or other proceeds of pro-

perty vested in the Board. The funds are to be banked and paid by cheque signed by the treasurer, and countersigned by two members authorised by the Board. All such moneys are to be expended by the Board in the con' struction, maintenance, and repair of buildings necessary for the purposes of hospital or charitable institutions; in payment of debts or liabilities incurred in the administration of the Act, in grants for purposes of charitable aid and the general payment of all charges and expenses incurred by the Board in carrying out the Act. The Board is to take all necessary steps for providing funds for the maintenance of any hospital or charitable institution vested in it or under its control, or for obtaining means to afford charitable aid, and may appoint persons to collect voluntary subscriptions or donations for all or any of such purposes, and receive and collect from contributory local bodies in the district contributions which they may be required to furnish from time to time out of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly for the

purpose, which may ba paid to such Board, during the financial year a sum not exceeding one pound for every pound of grants by contributory local bodies, subscriptions, receipts or donations received by such Boards, exclusive of receipts from proceeds of land and endowments and additional to the subsidy for money expended in the repair or erection of buildings, may be paid, such amount not to exceed half the nett cost of maintenance. The contribution from local bodies is to be in proportion to the population. Contributions in arrear may be recovered as a debt. Local bodies may pay contributions out of ordinary fund or levy rates. A County Council may set apart a portion of county fund for purposes of the Act. The Board is to keep books and accounts. Separate accounts are to be kept of the proceeds of land and endowments, and like accounts to bo made of moneys granted or received for special object. The books are to be balanced yearly, and the accounts are to bo audited as provided by the Public Revenue Act, 1878