S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2687, 19 July 1894, Page 4

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Tuesday. Present :• — Messrs J. Jackson (chairman), J. Hill, W, Coltman, and A. White. Apologies were received from Major Moore _ and Mr Talbot. The chairman said the demand for charitable aid had been heavy during the mouth, heavier than ever before, from a variety of circumstances. The board, however, must do its duty in the relief distress as well as it could. Among the correspondence was a letter from the Hawke’s Bay Board declining to take any responsibility in regard to a family named Jones. The husband is in Hawke’s Bay, the family in Geraldine. It was resolved to take proceedings against the husband. The following letter was received from the Department of Labour, Wellington, dated 27th June:— “ Yours of the 23rd instant received. You complain that the wives of two men named Reilly and Travis have applied for charitable aid, and you also ask that the money so advanced be deducted and repaid to your board. The men had no need to leave their wives behind them at all, as they could all have come together. Two of the men did bring their wives and are consequently now in the better position of having only one home to keep. Of course in the case of the woman near her confinement the case is different, as I presume she would not be able to travel. I would point out that we are unable to make any deduction off the men’s wages, as that is contrary to law, but I shall at once write to the officer in charge of the work at which the men are engaged, asking him when paying to bring the matter urgently under the notice of the men in question. I shall also urge upon them the advisableness of at once getting their wives and families up beside them. We will do everything in our power to assist your board in getting a refund of the money, but, as I have stated, we cannot deduct from wages. If Mrs Travis is in good health, she should at once see our agent in Timaru, and take steps to join her husband, which will, of course, obviate the necessity of her applying to your board for relief. Again assuring you of our readiness to assist you to recover the money advance^. —I am etc., « J. Mackay, Chief Clerk.” A letter from the Inspector-General inquired whether the £l6 given to the board by Mr Hall-Jones was given for a specific purpose, and the secretary stated that he had replied stating exactly what the money was given for. The Audit Office returned the balancesheet for last year certified correct. The Waimate Hospital Board inquired whether a Chinese, named Johnny to Fea, an incurable cripple, could be received into the barracks, as a more suitable nlace than a hospital. 1 It was resolved to receive the man, and to inquire into the feasibility of sending him home to China. Messrs Meason and Marchant wrote suggesting that water closets should be provided at the barracks for the women, as well aa well as for the men, the cost being £29 for one, £35 for two, £43 for a third for children. —After some conversation on the subject it was agreed to visit the barracks after the meeting and decide. Accounts were passed for payment. Hospital, £lßl 3s 3d; Charitable Aid, £17114s Id; progess payment on buildings at barracks, £3O; account for articles purchased for barracks from special fund, £54 15s 3d, The members paid a visit to the barracks in the afternoon, and after consultation decided to adjourn consideration of the caretaker’s complaints re a ladies’ visiting committee who visited the barracks, and outhouse building until the next meeting of the board.