"BESTING THE GOVERNMENT."

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 155, 1 July 1911, Page 7

"BESTING THE GOVERNMENT."

HOSPITAL BOARD'S SUBSIDIES. CBy Telegraph.—-Press AsJoclatloniV -V WELLINGTON, Friday, Sections 38 and 77 of the Hospital rtitutions Act, governing the granting >f Government subsidies, were conlemncd in strong language at the Health Conference to-day by the South Canter' jury delegate, Mr. Maslin. Section 38. t may be explained, provides for the payment of subsidies in "such sums. . . . as the Minister thinks sufficient," while section 77, where a, board fails ta perform its duty or "has done or intends to do any illegal act" gives the 3overnor-in-Couneil power, to recommend the "Minister to withhold the whole or my part of the Subsidy." ''This," ea.id Mr. Mvislin, pointing to the words"or intends to do," "is one of the most iniquitous pieces of legislation over embodied in the statute law." He moved that the conference is of opinion that both Uin section* referred trt should be expunged from the Statute Book. T)r Valintine, by way of explanation, said that Mr. Maslin's objection to the clauses'quoted evidently arose over the holding up of a subsidy which, in his (the speaker's) opinion, and in the opinion of the Auditor-General, the authorities were not entitled to receive on a basis o£ 24/ in the £1., Afc times " he said, "you will find men—most respectable citizene, who in the conduct of their own affairs show the utmost integrity, who. when it comes to a Government subsidy. arc not so prone to 6bservo those little niceties which they most assuredly" -would in their own private business." The Government wa9 brill" bPaten all along the line in regard to subsidies. Tt w<lß his duty to see thnt the money wae properly apportioned. ' t The motion was lost on being pufi to the conferee?.