THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5102, 31 July 1877, Page 3

THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL.

The preamble to this Bill states that its object is to provide for the management of hospitals and other charitable institutions in the colony, partly supported by contributions from the public funds. Hospitals, schools for neglected or destitute children, and asylums for the relief of aged, diseased, incurable, or destitute persons, maintained wholly or in part by voluntary subscriptions of not less than fifty persons paying £1 a year, or £lO in one donation, may be incorporated upon petition from the contributors, and are to be managed by committees of nine persons elected by the contributors ; of such committees, one-third must retire annually.' The rules made by the managers are subject to the Governor’s approval. The Governor may from time to time appoint inspectors, who shall have power at any time to examine and inspect every institution established under the Act. The Governor may, out of the funds voted by Parliament, contribute towards the purchase of land, and the establishment or enlargement of the institutions. There shall be issued and paid to each institution, out of the Consolidated Fund, during each financial year, a sum to the sum raised by the managers of such institution by subscriptions, receipts, or donations. The maximum amount so paid is not to exceed a certain sum per week for each inmate {the amount is left blank in the Bill), or at a certain rate {also left blank) for each recipient of outdoor relief. The Governor is to appoint auditors. Near, relations of inmates may be compelled to contribute to their support not more than 10s. per week. Destitute, neglected, unmanageable, and orphan children may be brought before a justice of the peace by the managers of any school. The magistrate before whom any such child is brought, may, if he shall think it expedient, order such child to be sent to the school, the managers of which brought the child before him. The magistrate is to endeavor to ascertain to what religious persuasion the child belongs, and to specify that in which the child is to be educated. No child is to be detained after it is sixteen years old. Full powers to manage the children are given by the Bill. The Governor may contribute out of money to be voted by Parliament not more than 2s. fid. per week for children . detained, on. the application of a near relative or guardian who, if able, must contribute 10s. fid. per week. Power is given by the Act to enforce payment. The Governor may withdraw,his. certificate from any institution when it ceases to bo under the Act. One of the responsible Ministers of the Crown, to be nominated by the Governor, shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be charged with the general administration of this Act ; and in all cases in which no provision or no sufficient provision is in the opinion of the Governor made by this Act, it shall be lawful for the Governor from time ,to time to make and prescribe all such regulations and orders, either general or applicable to particular cases only, as he shall think fit, and he can revoke such regulations and orders as shall appear to be requisite. All such regulations and orders shall be published in the Gazette, and being so published shall have the force of law.