CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886, Page 22

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

At the meeting of this body held on Wednesday, the Chairman (Mr Robin) gave the following account of the proceedings since last meeting :— Since the board met on the 31st March last— six months ago —it has been found necessary to hold quite a numher of committee meetings, && was to be expected with a new act which was entirely a new departure. It was found to require amendments, and upon the whole I think the Government conceded to your committee all that could be expected, and from Hme to time issued instructions which made the act more workable. As you are aware, the original act gave what has been justly termed a double subsidy. This, it now appears, was not intended, but the Government, with a little pressure, agreed to pay it up to the end of the present month, when, by the amended act, only single subsidy will be paid ; hence the necessity of calling you togethf-r to-day for the purpose of making an extra levy, which the act empowers us to do, and failing compliance Government has power to appoint commissioners to fulfil all the functions appertaining to this board. Tha extra levy for both boards (hospital and charitable aid) will amount to two-thirds of a penny in the pound for the current year ending March 31, 1887. The sum required to support tho Benevolent Institution, Hospital, and Female Refuge amounts per annum, in round number?, to £13,000. This does not iuclude the Industrial School. The yearly estimated expenditure for indigent children alone is £2800, thus making

a total of £16,000 or thereby to support these institutions (the Government support criminal children committed to the school entirely at their own cost) ; and to raise this sum a rate on the whole district will be required of 2d in the pound for both boards. I would draw the members' particular attention to this, so that each district may know exactly the amount they will have to provide for the board's requirements during the. current year. Another matter to be brought before you will be t an application from Nelson for a sum to support the Heaton family, committed by Mr Carew at Port Chalmers to tho Industrial School in the former place ; and, although there may be difference of opinion as to the necessity or wisdom of placing these children in a school outside the district, I do not expect with the act before fyou you will have much difficulty in arriving at a conclusion ou the matter. Another matter on which you will be called to give an opinion is extra accommodation for incurable patients now in the hospital. Some time ago the hospital authorities applied to have some of these transferred to the Benevolent Institution, and the request had to be declined in consequence of the lack of sufficient accommodation, and it will be for you to say whether you will grant the funds necessary to bnild a new room or rooms that will be required for this purpose. The levy asked does not anticipate this, and I presume a small additional rate would be required, or whether you will approve of boarding these patients out, which can be done at a very moderate rate. There can be no doubt the more encouragement there is given to apply for charitable aid the more it will be asked after, and the self-reliance of the poorer classes undermined. One effect of this act is apparent — viz., that very few private donations are being made to these institutions. An attempt was recently made to establish a Hospital Sunday, but with very poor success, most people declining to contribute, as they already pay through this board, and look upon it in the light of a second contribution; but as these voluntary efforts are subsidised at the rate of 24s for every £1, I hope some of the more liberal in our country will take the matter up. The bank books and treasurer's cash book are on the table for your inspection.