CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9703, 15 April 1897, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Charitable Aid Board waa held at 2.30 p.m. Present—> Messrs Westenra (Chairman), Wallace, Board, Smith, Prud hoe, Act on-Adams, Hamilton, Harper" Sealey, Dunlop, Chalmers, Manhirc, Rennie, Dobson and Boag. Tlie Chairman said—l am sure the Board will share my regret at the loss ot Mr T. Rerriek j whose work waa generally recognised as of great value amongst the poor.iv Christchurch, and who was always willing to co-operate with the Board in its effort-tt> discriminate between deserving poverty and unblushing imposition, of which'Mr Herrick had accpiired considerable experience, and his personal - energy was undoubtedly remarkable. 1 shall ask tho Board to record its sympathy with Mrs Herrick in her bereavement. A letter is to hand-from the St. Saviour's Guild on the subject of the amount voted towards tho Samaritan Home. He moved—-" That a letter of condoleuce be sent to Mrs Herrick." ■ Mr J. T. Smith seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from the St. Saviour's Guild, pointing out that the Board's letter to the Bishop stated that £400 would be paid in twelve monthly instalments, of which only nine had been received. - They hoped the Board would carry out the arrangement in its entirety. On the motion of Mr Dunlop it was resolved—" That the payment to the Guild be at the rate of £400 per annum for three months, and at the rate of £300 per annum for nine months up to March 31st, 1898." The report of the Institutions Committee was read. It stated that in accordance with a resolution of t-he Board it had invited and re ceived tenders for the small addition to tin .permanent buildings of tbe Female Refuge, and had accepted that of Mr W. H. Browne, who had the work now in hand. Tho Committee recommended that* a small apartment be added on the men's side of the Memorial Home. There were funds whibh could be applied lo the purpose and the'ex* ponse would be inconsiderable.' The Medical Officer at Lyttelton reported favourably on the health at the - Orphanage, and desired temporary leave of absence, nominating a locum tenens meanwhile.

Mr Smith moved the adoption of the report, and stated that the trustees of a man who had become an inmate had sold some property which had realised £140. This had been paid to the Board. The Committe*now proposed to add a room which would cost £40. The report was adopted. Mr Smith moved — ''That the Institutions Committee be authorised to accept a tender for the erection of a room." Mr Hamilton seconded the motion. Messrs Prpdhob and Dcnlot* protested against the putting up of temporary pre. misesdn connection With the Rome. : After some discussion, in which Messrs Board, Dobson and Hamilton took part, the resolution was put and agreed to. ' It was resolved that leave of absence be granted to Dr. T. 0. Guthrie, as asked for. The Ashburton Home Committee reported that they had carefully considered the question referred by the Board, and, seeing that tho' resignation of the Master of the Homehad been formally accepted, they wereol opinion that the proposed plan of reorganisation should Jbe laid before the Board, together wich applications (under a code of specified duties/, which had been invited order that provision be made for refilling the office at the termination of the current month. The Committee thought that a Master should be appointed and a female assistant, who may or may not be the Master's wife, and who . could be charged with the supervision of clothing, &c, and of sick nursing ; a competent: able-bodied man cook should also be engaged to relieve the aged inmate who has acted in that capacity for a long time, aud is now past such work. The Master should be required th 1 - act generally as the local agent to the Board, at Ashburton, and make inquiries into, the circumstances of- applicants • for outdoor relief, and also do what clerical "work is necessary. These proposals, if adopted, would abolish the offices of Matron and domestic servant--, as Avell as of- the'present corresponding Secretary, all of Whom held been notified that their engagements would terminate on the 30th inst.

terminate on tne own lnsu. Mr Hamper moved the adaption of the report with the addition of a clause to the effect that the Committee" have Jpower to make the appointments recommended. Mr Smith seconded the mption. Messrs Board and Prudhoe. objected to giving the Committee the" power to make the appointment.' ' Mr Prudhoe moved as an amendmenjb— " That the Board should go into Committei to make the appointments." Mr Manhirk seconded the which was lost on the voices. ' 'The report of the Committee without the last clause, as to the giving power to appoint the Master, was then put and agreed to. After a lengthy discussion' on a point oi order, Mr Harper moved—"That permission be granted'to the Committee ot the Aehburton Home to select candidates for recommendation to the Board for appointment." Mr Dustlop seconded the amendment. Mr Board moved as an amendment—* " That a special meeting of the. Board b« held on Wednesday next to consider thft appointments to the Ashburton Home." • ~ Mr Peudhob seconded the amendment. He thought the Board had been treated with some discourtesy by the Committee. - J They had been told that there was a largo number of applicants, yet the Board had not been informed even of the number or who the applicants were. The Chairman denied thai there had been any discourtesy. ' : The amendment was put and carried. It was agreed that all the names of the candidates be supplied to the members of the Board. . The Secretary read the allocations of thj payment by the local bodies, which waf adopted. The Treasurer reported tbat the tione for last -year had all been paid by local bodies except by the Cheviot County, Ashburton Boroug*h nod Woolston Borough. Mr Smith moved—" That unless - the arrears be paid within fourteen days* the matter will be placed in the hands of the solicitors to the Board." This was seconded and agreed to. The Board, then adjourned.