THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 2 January 1886, Page 2

THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID ACT.

Hm: following is a copy of the ciiculai which the Waikato County Council piu pose sending to all cognate bodies in thcolony :— Am meeting of the Waik.ito County Council held on 18th December, 1883, a 1 which, in addition to a full attendance <" umncillors theie were mesent by nivit-i turn: Edward Lake, K-q., M.H.jR. {•» Waipa, J. B. Whyte E,q., M.H.R. for Waikdto, and W. A. Graham E,q., Mayo of Hamilton, it was unanimously lesolvei. to invite the co-opeiation of borough and county councils throughout the colony in drawing the attention of the Government to the immature and unwoikablo characte ■if the Hospitals and Charitable Itistitu tious Act, 1883, provisions which, in th opinion of this council, are calculated ti insure the rapid growth of State paupeiiMii m the colony, without providing any efb" cient or adequate meaas of z emulating an J controlling the same. That the Act has been framed witliou' due consideration of the inteiv-ts o« country districts h readily appaient fron. the fact th.it while representation at the board, with its consequent power of control has been fixed on a basis of population, contributions in sup port of the institutions are to bj levied and obtained on the valuation of I property. . Tins arrangement is viewed with disquietude, more especially in relation to tin so-called Chatitable Aid pait of the Act, which is simply the bunging into operat'on of a Poor Law m New Zealand, a country where it has been frequently averted wages are higher, living less expensive, and employment more readily obtained than in any other p.ut of the world. In Waikato and adjacent counties theie has not been, n«iv does theie at piesent cxi-t any evidence of poveity to an extent to justify or warrant the introduction of u Poor Law. If, however, other portions of the colony are less foitunate, and it is deemed absolutely necessary by legislation to compel the affluent to piovide for the maintenance of their aged and indigent fellow colonists, it lequhes to be done by a separate statute, as there is little in common between the management of hospitals and the relief or support of the destitute. It is readily admitted that hospitals arc m their proper place, and may bo more efficiently and economically managed in large centres of population, such as the city of Auckland; but with legard to th<* relief of the poor a separate Act is required of a simple character, wheieby borough and county councils throughout the colony may be constituted Poor Law Board>-,charged wit li the relief or support of the destitute within their several jurisdictions, with power for two or moro of them to amalgamate foi Poor Law purposes w here that course ma\ be deemed advisable. By this means th. expense attending the creation of a multitude t»f new boards will be obviated, and councillors being personally acquainted with the residents of their respective districts will be in a position to check imposition, and where applicants for relief an able to give labour in return they will be r a position to exact it with profit to the community. It is considered an unjustice to couutn districts that contributions to district hospitals has been fixed on a valuation <>, property basis, by which they are called upon to pay sums far beyond the value oi any benefit they can possibly receive. It any such general arrangement be necessary, a population basis would be more likely t« give satifaction, but there cm be no reason why the co-.t of maintaining a patient maj not be ascertained and country districts be simply eh irged with the co«t of treatin.* patients who have bc j n admitted ou tliolder of auy pei*on authorised by the loca body, leaving the boaid to recover if the' can from the patient or his relatives, a provided by the Destitute Persons Act. 1877 In a communication of this kind tht questiou can n 't b' tietted in detail, biu it is hoped tiiat sutficimt hi-> been sai. to show thit mi aniJ idui'iitof the Act of last session is impoiatn. ly noeessaiy, and until that is done provision should bf made by the Govdinnunt i >r can ymg ou the hospitals and pour relief, as at present existing. With this object in view tli-co-operation and active susoistance of youi council is invited. \ppended are the resolutions passed bj this council, together with a copy of a letter written to The Waikato Tunes newspaper on the 17th November last b\ Josenh J. Barugh E-q., a member of the Waikato County Council, and their representative at the Hospital and Charitable Institution Board. Mr Barugh is a recent arrival in th» colony, aud having for many years occupied the position of a Poor Liw Guardian in England, his opinion on the questions herein referred to may be persued with profit.— l have the honour to be. &c, &c, Axmmw Primrose, Chiirmau Waikato Council. 21st Dec, 1883. Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Waikato County Council held on 18th December, 1885. On a motion by Councillor Seddon, seconded by Councillor Barugh, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to. Ist. That in the opinion of this council, the Hospital and Uhmtable Institutions Act, ISS."i. .-hould lo amended during next session of Parliament by the excision of the clauses i elating to "Separate Institutions," and all that portion of the Statute having reference to the relief of the poor. 2nd. That for the purpose of relieving the poor it is essential (t-» insure a proper control of expenditure) that distiicts be of much smaller area than tho.se for the management and support of hospitals, and that each district support its own poor. 3rd. That the Government be lequested to introduce a, bill durng noxt session of Parliament providiu,r for the constituting of each borough council and county council tlnoughout the colony a Poor Law Board with power for any two or more of them to amalgamate. It was further resolved that a copy of these resolutions be sent to members of the House of Representatives and to borough and county councils throughout the colony. Jas. McPhkrsok, County Clerk, Waikato. Kirikiriroa, 21st December, 1885.

Tenders ara required bjr Mr Burton. Avon Farm, Ngaruawahia, for bindfcg and stacking oat;.