S.C. CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2242, 18 August 1891, Page 3

S.C. CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Friday. Present — Messrs J. Jackson (chairman), D. McLaren, J. M. Barker, W. M. Moore, and Dr Thomas. Apologies were received from Messrs Boss, Sinclair, and Quinn. THE . CHAXEMAN’S STATEMENT. Mr Jackson stated that all the local bodies had paid their contributions, the claim had been sent to the Government for the subsidy and this also had been paid. These payments placed the board in credit £IO4O. He wished the board to consider the position of Dr Thomas as a member of the board, and whether he, receiving pay from the board as a member of the medical staff, was not disqualified from sitting. Dr Thomas said the matter had occurred to him, and he thought of getting over it by acting gratuitously on the staff, giving back to the hospital what he had to receive, and keeping a nominal sum, just enough to make him, like the rest, a paid servant of the board. Mr McLaren,said Is would be enough to disqualify him. It was finally decided to leave the question to Dr Thomas’s consideration. The chairman brought up the matter of the Bill now before Parliament for separating Waimate County into an independent hospital and charitable aid district.

A long discussion took place on the proposal, Mr McLaren defending it. The Waimate Council built the hospital out of its own funds, before the present Act was thought of, and not only maintained it, but contributed largely to the support of the hospital at Timaru, besides helping to provide large sums for building improvements. At present the county paid in rates and subsidy £2500 a year to the South ‘ Canterbury board, and received back only about £I3OO. The result of the discussion was a resolution moved by Mr Moore and seconded “by ,Mr Barker, and carried—- “ That the members of the district be requested to oppose the Bill for the separation of Waimate from the hospital district with the boundary at present proposed.” Mr McLaren requested that his protest be recorded against the resolution. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Moore,' seconded by Mr Barker—“ That the board protest against the proposal of the Government to hand over to the local bodies the care of harmless limatics and imbeciles, which are the proper charge of the colony as a whole and should be maintained in special institutions; and that the members for the district be requested to oppose the proposal.” One or two charitable aid cases were mentioned and dealt with. A letter from the Builders’ Association respecting the alterations at the barracks was partly dealt with. The association desired to know how tenders were called, who the tenderers were, and the amounts of the tenders. / Mr Moore explained that the work was of such a nature that specifications could not be drawn for it, and it was agreed that a few carpenters should be asked to go up and see what was to be done, and give a price, which he understood was to be submitted to the board, and as the chairman was in the trade, it was agreed that Mr Ross should send up the men. The secretary said Mr Ross declined all responsibility, because he had been put on the committee and was not consulted. Mr Ross told him he sent up some men. The chairman said he himself sent none. Some men came and he showed them what was to be done.

- Mr Moore said if Mr Ross were present he would go more fully into the matter, J but he did not think there was much in it. , The chairman thought there was only a little jealousy perhaps. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £205 IGs 6d for Charitable Aid, and £l5B 3s 5d for hospital accounts. The payment of these accounts leaves a credit balance of £676 15s 9d. The meeting then terminated.