United HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2138, 23 March 1886, Page 3

United HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A vr::TiN'G of the United Hospital and C'lui itublo Aid. Board was held at Che City Council Chamber* on Fiid.iy e\eninir. Prpvptt: His Wowhip the Mayor (Mr W. R. W.uldel) presiding, Messrs Mackeclinie, * W. J. Suiter, F. J. Moss, M.H.R, 0. M.i vs. J. H.- Hudson, S. Luke, E. Like, M.H.R., E> Mitcholaon, M.H.K., A. E. Isaacs, A. Kidd. T. M. Lane (Mangonui), R. Cochrane, (Hokianga), Thomas, Wilkinson (Manuka u ), Barugh (Waikato), W. A. Gr.iham, J. H. Salmon (Bay of Islands), J. N. Pegler (Raglan), and Captain Yates ((fhehunga). s"ho object of the meeting was to aacortato tha^unount of expenditure required for the di-tiibution of charitable aid in the ui^ted for the year ending 31st March, 1887, and for the purpose of allocating tl»o proportion of such expenditure to be contributed by thp local authorities in the manner eet fotth under tho Hospital and Ohaiit,%ble Institutions Act, 188.">, and for tiie tiunfuotion of such other business as m>gl>t be Wrought before the meeting. Particulars of Rpquirbmhxts for Ciiari•ahii \it). 18S6 7.— Mr Graham, Relieving """offi cr, li bill tos ir> 28 h February, as per account. £70> 10s lid; liabilities for March, 18iiO, «i\. £250 : estimate of requirements for yMr 188* 7, £3,f00. (This turn to include cent of extra relitf necessary by reason of closing up o£ iicuovole <t Societies, Auckland and On*hunfS Total. 1.4555 lOs lid D.spen«ar> • Liabilities from Ist Octobor to 31st Dcrcmb< r, 1886, £76 ; liabilities from Ist January to 31st March, 1886, £76 ; liabilities lor jear 18SC-7. £300; total, £450. Industiial ich ><>1s : Parnelt— l4 children at £10 a year, 4 month* to 31st March. 1886, £35; 12 months to 3Ut March, 18*7. £140. Kohimararo'— At 7s 64 atfoek each-cMia— 2 children from i»t December, to*Jt«t Marrh, ftM, £14 17s 10d; 5 cbiWrei cW mitted in 1386 cost up to 31st March , 18S0, £ U 12* fld ; Tl. 7 Cost of same-far IM6-7. £136 10? ; .S. M.irv's. Ponsonh*-i-/tl'7s M • week each child 2 Children to 3fsf March. 1886, £10 12. ; 12 Children «-ommitte<l «ince Ist June, 1880 <*™ H weeks, at 7s each per week). £32 12s : Tl. 14 Maintenance of s«n« for 1886 7, and probable cost of other commitments, £137 Is Id ; total, L«72 5«6d.* Grand total, £6.677 16s 4d. One half «f amount eg- als £2,838 18^ 2d, or a rate of one fifteenth of a penny in the £ on rateable value Rkport as to state of "CHARirABK Aid Depart > r.vr for Thrki (3) Months from Ist DKCtUIBRJIv 1883. TQ, 28TH FeBRUARY, ThreB(4lHp"tM'Wnp»id Vouchers due.toContrac\"rf"2WlPfts *lld. Three (3)' 'mdntbs 1 Vouchers paid by Re'ievinff Officer (Onehunga), £40 6« 6d Three !3i months' Petty Expenditure. Relief, Rrnrs. Car* of Children— paid by Relieving OffiVer, £50 15< 6d Three months' salary, £37 10s. Total, £128 125. Grand total £705 10s lid. , • J. Graham. The Secretary read the following communication, recrived from the Premier :— "Wellington, Ist February, 1886. Sir,— l h»*«rt ho -honour, by direction of the Promier^o^acltnowledw the receipt of your letter* oftheNith*' ultimo, enclosing in extract from the minute* of the proceedings of the United Board at their meeting on that day, and inquiring whether the Government will grant the indemnity asked for if Mr M,ojs',a resolution, and whether it will auriplyttn* necessary funds for charitable aid until it haa been decided that the Board's legal powers are sufficient to enforce payment of contributions by local bodies. liureply, lam to inform you that tbe Government is anxious to assist the Board in carrying out their function!*, but ifcfcannot give more than the Act authorises. -iR.JrJOQvktT,}" * ThY Chairman remarked that it was hardly worth while calling » meeting on such xlptter. Mr Maokeehniß said that no satisfactory reply had been received to Mr Mosm's reso lnti >n. If the Board had no power co levy at ln«t meeting they had no power to do so at thp present meeting. ir Fhd Cli'irman said the contributions had been levied in tfia South. The matter had been t.iken into Court .md decided. It was necessary that something should be done hnTe in thp \v..v of raising funds. The Reh-n ing Officer hud had to pay a considerable . mount out of his private pocket, ,»nd had had to give guarantees to contractors. The Bour^ ought to test the point whethei it c»uld recnver or not. What the outcome might he wan something more than he would like to discuss thnt evening. He moved a. resolution setting forth that the amount required for the distribution of charitable aid in the united district up to the^f of March. 1887, was £6677 16s 4d : that t o local authorities shall contribute at the rae of one-n'fteenth of a penny in the pf ijnjil "fflht ratable value of the ratable pro|iotV in the various districts. The follo\vii>{T arfrth*" amounts allocated to be paH by tho'l'Ciil authi>rities : — Auckland, £785 0,10 d; Hamilton, £29 11s 4d ; One1)80^4 £i7-K;a lQd; Paruell, £75 11s; NeftmiifljHt. £28 16s 8d ; Counties of Hob s'«n.J:B."ljN 2d: Mangonui, £40 0s 10d'; msnl-in. £107 2s; Bay of Islands, £58 7» 10-' ; Rodney, £82 Cs 8d ; Hokianga, £31 lfK 4<l « Wiiitpmotrt, £202 5n 4d ; Eden, J0132 17s 8d ; Mannkan, £355 7» 4d ; Rapr-hnr-Wftikato, £222 3* 6d ; Waipa, £190 19s Bd.ht..j, s d. £2838 18s 2d. 'Mr E. Lnko said the Board was in a fair lesa.ffltiqfrtCtory position than it was at last meeting. By its action, the Board bad put iteelf further nut of court than before, and he mo\ ed " That tbe Board adheres to its resolution earned at the previous metting." iMr,' W< A. Graham seconded Mr Lake's reso]u£ioo f The rnbicon had'been reached. He i 'thought the gentlemen representing the cfly. were' placed in an unfortunate position for themselves, because it would apparently appear that the country members had 1 * prffconnl feeling against the city ' of Auckland. There was nothing of the sort, buttifewas simply this: the country bad made up its mind that it would not administer charitable aid upon the proposed basiit ; and therefore the country member* on- leaving Auckland, after last meeting, wm under the- impression that the decision ccftneftrt wna fiflal' fchjlt unless the Government would indemnify the United Board in.ftiiv action it would take in this matter, the Board would not feel justified in proceeding. , Mr O. Mays, said the question, as he understood (ijk,,.' was whether the Board would go on without" an indemnity or not. He maintained that as loyal citizeus they were bound to endeavour to carry out the Act or rew'gn. It, was hardly right' for the Bonrd~ to meet to fight out the defects of the Act I .' ' They were bound to test those' defects at the n'M opportunity. Charitable aid had been practically administered by Mr Graham, Relieving Officeft jarrhis own responsibility. He. thoi?ftt ,U «otnewhat childish 'to . meet,' and not make some honest attempt to work the Act. He hoped members of the Board would withdraw their opposition, and have the prtint tested in a court of law. He felt that the Relieving Officer should be relieved of his personal responsibility. To continue the present statP of things was, to his mind, bordering on dishonour. Mr Barngh, as a Tepresentntive of \V»ikato, said that district did not want to fight it mit in n court of law. Mr Xiake nuked the chairman if he had not a direct opinion of Messrs Hesketh and Richmond on this matter ? The Chftirmnn replied in tho affirmative, but said that in thn meantime the people were hungry. The Chairman further pointed our that the Board owed at present over £1000. MfMgafcsftid the position wa» a senotis one. If ttie Board thought thnt a sufficient amount of money would be paid to carry on with, th«* Board would be taking a serious responsibility upon itsejf if it did not goon. Some of the districts intended to dispute tlifcwwiuent, but many of the districts intenrtpd" "lopaV. *^" c Board would Ihus probably b«*e ctiffioient money to carry on until tliV Assembly met, which would not be loner nAw* when steps would be" taken to have the defect* of the \ct remedied. Mr Lake thought the recommendation of the Board's solicitor re raising funds should not be neglected. Mr W. J. Suiter said the stoppage of charitable aid would mean raoat serious * hardship and misery. If rations were stopved tomorrow there would be such a hiT&ffid^Ty-raiSKTby the Press and the publre as bad nev*r been beard before in Auckland. Parliament, when it met, would alter the 'Act and make it retrospective, so that all districts would have to pay eventually. Tbe Relieving Officer was now personally responsible for £700, and he thohcht no one present would see that officer the money out of his pocket. Air Poirler said he was lent to resist the proporfpd proceerfing of the Board. Mr Sil.non pointed out the necessity of the local authorities having a certain portion of the funds to administer locally. Many case<« deserving" assistance could not be sent to Auckland, , , Mr Mays thought this suggestion a reasonable on* t and that there could be no difficulty in fleeting such a request. Mr "Lane said ths County Council bad given him instructions to oppose the proposed action of the Board, and for this' reason, that it was unreasonable that that county should be tacked on to Auckland. ChMvUWe- aid must be locally given in that distant district. 'Mr M«ys thonght they bad a right to ask Mr,.X#ke,-a'hd those who were acting with \M »n oppotwf th* fropwed, mathod <rf

Healing with the question t<> indicate snmo other nyatem vlnch they might tliink better. Mr Lake's amendment was read as follows : — " That, with reference to the resolution moved by the Chairman, that a man -jf money should be voted for charitable aid for the years 1886-7, this meeting declines to take any notion in the matter unless the Government indemnifies the Board in case of failure of any legal action taken to recover the sums allocated to local bodies." The Board divided on the amendment : Ayes, 8 ; noes, 10. Amendment lost. The resolution was then put and carried. The Chairman proposed, " That the rate be payable on or before April 30." Mr Like asked the Chairman into what account the money raised was to be paid ? He though there would bo a difficulty in starting such an account. The Chairman : It won't interest you much seeing that you are not going to pay anything towards it Mr Lake : I did not say anything of the kind. The Chairman : Well, it has often enough been said to-night. The Chaiunnn subsequently said that half the people in the Kefuge were old, broken down people from the country districts. Of course it was to these towns that such people came fur aid. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Salmon, "That this Board agrees that County Councils in the north of Auckland, Waikato, Raglan, Mannkau Waipa, and Borough of Hamilton, shall be provided with funds by this Board for the relief of any urgent local cases ef distress which may arse in their reHpective counties and boroughs, provided that tha amount placed at the dtapoaul ttt, any local body in any year shall not exceed the amount of its contribution." Mr Moss moved that the following gentlemen be the executive of the United Board : -"The Chairman (Mr W. R. WaddeU Messrs. J. H. Hudson, A. Kidd, A. E. Mackechnie, W. J. Suiter, O. Mays, and E. Mitchelson." Carried. A discussion took place on what the duties of the executive should be. ' Mr Mays remarked that inquiry was necessary into the workiug of certain charitable institution*, in order to avoid some of the enormous expenditure which has been going on. He then referred, as an instance, to the indiscriminate coininittal<of children to the homes. ' „ Mr Lake moved, "That the Auckland and Onehunga benevolent societies be at once discontinued, and that the executive report as to these institutions at the 1 nejrtf meeting of the Board." Mr Garland gave as a reason why the Benevolent Society should not be abolished that for every pound collected by the society and handed over to the Board, the Board could claim another pound from the Government to hand over to the society. Mr Lake said that on any person collect- ! ing money in such a way, and hifntiirtg the money over to the Board, the Board could claim pound for pound from the Government. It was not necessary that such person should bo a member of a benevolent society. Mr Mays moved, "That the executive committee be requested to report to this Board at its next meeting the objects, method of management, and financial condition of all institutions seeking aid from this Board." The resolution moved by Mr Mays was put and carried. In reply to a question by Mr Graham, the Chairman said there was no po\ver given to the United Board to pay the travelling expenses of members. On the motion of the chairman, it was agreed that ten be a quorum. It was resolved that the next meeting of the United Board be on the first Friduy in July.