UNITED CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2108, 12 January 1886, Page 4

UNITED CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A JJRSTIV" .if Uie United C'hhuMh Aid Board w.n urU] m tin* Cit\ Co'inc"' Chi m be, Auckl<nd, on Friday night Prefect: fiie Mnyor of Auckland (Ch »ir man), Messis A. Kidd ( \.ncklan<i), P J Moss, M.IIR (Parnell) W J. Sinter (Newmarket) W. A. Graham ( Hamilton) E A- Mackechnie (Hobson County), 0 Mays, (Waitemata County), J. Salmon (Bay of Islands County), S. Luke (Manukau County), Jos. J. Barugh (Waikato County), E. Lake, M H.R. (Waipa County), J H. Hudson (Rodney County), and Capt. Yates (Borough of Onehunga). The Secretary. 'Mi 1 H N. Garland), read a quintity of correspondence and telegrams receive. i fiom Wellington, also the opinion of M- Mrs Hesketh and Richmond npon the resolution parsed at the previous meeting The latter was to the effect that under the present form of the Act no good could come by holding another meeting under the United Board, as the Government had practically acqoiesced in their former opinion. A copy of the draft Order-in-Council, gazetting the regulations under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, was forwarded from Wellington for the information of the Board. Messrs Hesketh arid Richmond, on being consulted in regard to the draft regulations, said ' ' We do not think it would be wise for Mr Waddel to* Interfere. We think he should stand aloof, and leave the whole responsibility of the Act and regulations with the Government. It appears to us that the regulations are as loosely drawn as the Act itself, and even assuming that the Governor has the power to make these regulations (which we gravely doubt), we fear they would lead to still greater confusion. While replying to tho Premier's letter, we would suggest that the question should be put to him as to whether it would not be better to request the District Board to make their levies for the joint purpose of Hospital and Charitable* Aid, ami allow them to set aside, under section 13, so much as they may think flt for charitable aid " In reply to ft telegram sent by the Mayor, Mr Govett wired, on behalf of the Premier, as follows :-'• That ' haritable Aid Board must manage to look after charitable aid. The Premier will, however, assist as far as possible. The Board should estimate the sum necessary to the end of March. Requisition local bodies to supply it, the Government paying the subsidy. The Board has now power to rate, and the local bodies can pay moneys out of their general revenue. Efforts could be made to get voluntary associations to manage. If Hoard a<ts as suggested. Government will pay subsidy in advance, so that Board will lie helped. The Premier sees no difficulty in carrying out provisions of the Act, and of satisfactorily and efficiently managing charitable aid." Copies of telegrams sent l»y the Mayor re payments hj the Relieving Officer in Auckland were r< ad. The Mayor said the outcome of the correspondence would 1-e an expression of opinion from the hoard ai to the. regu lation passed by the Governor-in-Conncil for their guidance. Mr Moss said of course it was very clear what the board had to do. Unless the Government were prep red to indemnify them in any och'on they took, no responsibility could be taken by them if they were opposed by an action in the Supreme Court Unless the Government were prepared to recoup the board any expense they might be put to in admiuis tering the Act, the board would .not be justified in taking any steps to collect the rate. Mr Salmon referred to the resolution passed at the last meeting, when a rate of l-15d in the £ was fixed. He moved, "That that resolution bo rescinded," and the board would then start afresh. He thought if they were going to pass a resolution they abonjd have one that fiDjuiLbe enforced, and for that reason he moved the motion. - ' t "Tr'l^lSfC** ? Luke lecortded the motiOqi'ana it wm pat and"6arrlcd. ■ ' *r,, U -« : <&* The Chairman said tbafcMessrsHesketh and Richmond bad 'drafted the following motion, which be moved; — "That for tEe purpose* mentioned in sections 34 and 33 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, the United Board of tho North of Auckland district with Auckland district do hereby declare that they have ascertained that the- total amount required for the" distribution of charitable aid up to the 31st March, 1886, in tho said united district, is £2129 3s Bd, and after making the reductions referred to in section 24 of the said Act, and allowing for the amount receivable from the consolidated fund, do hereby allocate the proportions of such expenditure to be contracted by the local authorities within the uuited district as Tblltfwtf: The local authorities whose names are set forth in the schedule hitherto shall pay tho amounts set opposite their respective names in the said schedule, the said amounts being at the rate of one-fortieth of a penny on the rateable ralue of th« rateable property , mentioned in section 23 of the said Act ; and the said United B'tard of the North of Auckland district with tho Auckland district do hereby appoint and require that tho said amounts shall be paid on or before the 9th day of February, 1886, to H. N. Garland, at his office, Wyndham-street, Auckland, and the mid H. N. Garland is hereby authorited to receive the said contributions and to give valid receipts therefor, Schedule : Auckland, £294 7s lOd ; Hamilton, £11 Onehunga, £17 18s lOd ; Parnell, £28 6s 7d ; Newmarket, £10 16s 3d ; Mangonui County, £15 0s 3d ; Bay of Islands. £21 17s lid ; Hokianga, £11 10^ 9d ; Hobson, £3 17s Id ; Whangarei, £40 3s 3d ; Rodney, £30 17s 6d ; Waitemata, £75 17s ; Eden, £162 6s 7d ; Manukau, £133 5s 3d ; Raglan. £24 7* 3<l ; Waikato, £83 6s 4d ; Waipa, £71 12a 5d : Total, £1064 \U lOd." Mr Mays seconded the motion. Mr Luke said he had great pleasure in moving a contrary resolution. He moved "That until the le^al position of the United Board hns been better defined no action betaken." Mr Salmon seconded the am ndment because the mo 1 ion h*d been founded on ', grounds altog* ther overlooked It w as a simple fact to call spirits from the deep, but would they coiw ? So with the District Hoards ; they might call on them to ■send money an 1 they might turn round and iay, "We cam ot get it" What then ? He would not vote for the resolution, as it would place them iv a ridieulons position. ' .•'Mrßarugh^nnposed the motion, as it Imposed a tax on the country districts, already too heavily taxed They created no paupers, and there was no reason why they should be asked to pay for them. Mr Mosx agreed with Mr Mays, that in levying the t,»\ it t ave them an opportn nity of claiming the subsidy, but he would not have the board take any respond bility in collecting it unless the Government would indemnify them. Mr Graham opposed tho motion, as they were advised that they cannot enforce the tax. Hh thought the opinion of Messrs Hesketh and Ri> hmond was .1 good one, and they should abide by it. The amendment was then put an 1 carried on th« voices Mr Rnrngh, said, as representing one of the country districts, they had resolvi-d not to pay away contributions to charitable aid except their omii pjiupeis, and a small increased amount toward hospitals. The amendment had » horeforo become the substantive motion, nnd befote it wa« put Mr Mom moved, as a further amendment, *' > hat fnil information as to tho requirements of the Board of CharUaM* Aid b» sent to the Govern ment, and that they be informed $h© Board will be ready to proceed on receiving from the Government an in» demnity and a supply of the necessary funds for charitable aid until it h.ts been decided thai *he B ird's legal powers {tR«!«r tb* A*'* *r* nnthei*nt to »nfar*Q

tn\ tin nt i>t ti».Mi"ijiLi ti t ciintri'iutimis " \J. i\J<ickc-( iiftie 6M[>i«>tted Mr Woi-sm •inn 'nvnt, .iml oi> it I < ing put it was I ii" i! ou the c.'ihtiug vi o i-f the Chan- ■ >»■.», v\ ho saI«T he w<i> in f.i*o«r of t'estiiil' their position ami putting a stop to tin- uncertainty. Hi* 1 divihion was follows : — For : M •— n Kidd, MficUcchnif, Mo-a, Mays, Suiter, Hiuleon, Chairman. Aii.»in«-t : Mf-srs YatiH, S.'lmon, Luke, Rirugh, Gi iliam, iiiid Luke. Tliu Ciiaiim.iQ «ugneste<l that they should pincuinrto'clfeSaa executive. Mr lianigh>oifl tlio Mii^riftts weiv too far apai^, as coUntry mem»>cr* could not aflfonl to travel to town to attend coniniitt< c mpctings. As it was, if the country lepresentativcs had attended they would have outvoted them on the amendment the town members had carried. The Chairman suggested the appoint-, ing of deputies. Mr Ot aha m- thought that the position had assumed a matter of the country v. towns. Mr Moss contended that it was not so, a* shown by the trade relations between them The board then adjourned until the reply fro.n the Government was received, when the chairman would convene a meeting of the board, giving seven days' notice. Th« Chairman announced that the District Board would meet at nine a.m. next day' for the convenience of country members who might wish to catch the eleven a m. train. — Herald.