CHARITABLE AID BILL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 5

CHARITABLE AID BILL.

At a meeting of the Napier Charitable Aid Board, a report of which has been &ent to members of the House, the Chairman said if the new Bill were carried it would result in gieab loss to the district. For instance, he said the cotb of the Hospital last year was £2,250. According to the Bill the Government would provide £375 leaving -€2,175 to be raised. The cost of Charitable Aid last year was £2,500. The new Government proposals would provide a subsidy of 1*319 only, leaving £2,180 to be raised by rates. Should the Bill bocome law it would extract a rate of 6d in the £ in Napier, and Is 4d in the £ on the capital valuation of the county. Ec moved, "That this meeting 1 protests against the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill passing in its present form." Captain Russell said that he did not think there was any chance of the Bill being passed. In Wellington it was recognised as a measure to provide an InspectorGeneral. The motion was carried unanimously. As the dispute over the new Charitable Aids Bill has resulted in the Auckland Board oeing about equally divided upon the question, it might be as well to know what other larger cities say about it. Last night the Wellington Borough Council dismissed it. Cr. Fraser, who is chairman of the Hospital Trustees and under whose management the cost had been from £1,208 for 95 patient^ and officers when under Government control, the 3 months ending December 31st 1884. to £(527, for a corresponding period of 1888, but with the geater number of 140 patients and staff, providing that with local supervision economy could be better seemed, strongly opposed it. He said that the Bill meant that the Government eventually would not give anything to the Hospital from the consolidated fund. He finished by moving that the Council disapprove of the Bill. This was carried by 7to 3.