HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS' BILL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9148, 18 May 1908, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS' BILL.

At the Kiwitea County Council meeting on Saturday the Council s representative on the Hospital Board, Cr. Fowler, brought under the attention of the Council the important changes it is sought to introduce in the management of Hospitals by the new Bill. At present the Government are 10s in £1 on all bequests to an institution, £1 for £1 on voluntary contributions, and £1 for £1 on the amount contributed by local bodies. Under the new Act it was proposed to make the subsidies 10s,“ 20s and 15s respectively, and three years after passing of the Bill 10s, 15s and 10s. The election of members was to be according to the Local Elections Act, 1904. One had phase of the new Bill was the proposal to make the Minister supreme in all matters. Even plans of any addition to a Hospital must be submitted to the Minister, even a matron could not be appointed without the approval of the Minister, and if things were not done to his satisfaction he had power to withhold entirely all subsidies. It was proposed to pay the Chairman £2OO a year aud other members travelling expenses. Cr. Fowler conderamed the proposed amendments. The Chairman said it was plainly the intention of the Government to stop all subsidies, and thus make the country keep the town poor. The present system of selecting representatives ou the Board had worked satisfactorily, and it was also just for the people who paid the tax had the representation. It was resolved, that the Council enter its most emphatic protest against the proposals outlined in the new Hospital and Charitable Institution Bill, particularly in the direction of the lessening and ultimate cessation of the Government subsidy, aud also in the direction of altering the present mode of election of representatives to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the system at present in force being considered the more satisfactory.