CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12203, 25 May 1905, Page 2

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

THE LABOUR TEST SYSTEM. The Charitable Aid Board met yesterday. Present—Messrs H. Friedlander (Chairman). W. H. Cooper, J. Dobson, F. Horrell, W. lUdoutfe, Geo. Scott, Harper, S. Harris, J. Wolfe, W. McMillan, and Davison, Mesdames Wells, Black, and Henderson . Mm Wells moved, "That the Charitable Aid Committee visit Southland and report as to the feasibility of putting into practice the methods adopted by tho Southland Board in dealing with repayments." Mrs Black seconded the motion pro forma. Mr W. H. Cooper said that be would support tho motion. The question of expense had been referred to, but he thought when they saw members of Parliament running about the country with a gold medal and £300 per annum that Sir J. Ward would only be too glad to give the members of the Board free passes. Tho Chairman -pointed out that tho Government woulcl contribute 10s in the £ of tho expenses of railway travelling. Ho did not think that tho question of expense .should weigh with them. Mr Davison raised tho question whether they could legally expend the money, and the Chairman said that until he had consulted the Act ho could not say. Mr Dobson and Mr Horrell said that there was no necessity for a farm to be established.

Mr Xorris explained that two applicants had come to tackle the labour tost. One came, and on being told that a labour test was to b_ applied, viz., the breaking of stones at 4s per yard, ho went away. Tho other, who said ho had no food, went into tho yard, and did some little stone-breaking, but ultimately went away. Tho motion was then put and carried, on a division, by 9 to 5. The Institutions Committee reported that tho removal of tho Orphanage from Lyttelton to Waltham had boon effected. Negotiations were in progress with the Lyttelton Borough Council in respect of the settlement of boundaries of tiie old Orphanage site, and tho construction of a right-of-way through the property in order to afford convenient access to tho upper portion. As soon as passible, a complete survey would be made, and the leases of the sections put up to auction. The committee had I ascertained that the construction of the proposed septic tank at the Memorial Home was practicable. Plans and specifications were therefore being prepared. The committee had inspected tho Female Refuge, and recommended that tenders Iks invited for various necessary repairs to the buildings. The report was adopted, with the addition of tho sanctioning of the erection of a scullery at the Fcmalo Refuge. The letter of Mr Hastings Bridge with reference to tho grounds of the Femalo Refugo, stated that the work of improvement, had been put in hand to be done, and the men had thrown up the .job. Before another lot of men could Ik* got the season was too far advanced. The Taunangi Committee submitted a detailed plaJi of the site of the old Homo at Ashburton, _howing the subdivision into ten convenient sections, of fiom about one-quarter to three-quar-ters of an acre each, within the borough of Ashburton. Tho Gas Company were pushing on tlie mains, and were within a quarter of a milo of the institution. The committee would ask for authority to deal with the submitting of the sections for lease as soon as possible. It was agreed to give the, committee tho authority asked for. The Finance Committee jeported that they had carefully considered the position of tho Board, and the correspondence with regard to Moule Trustees' Empowering Act of last session; and having obtained an opinion from the Board's solicitor, they regretted being unable to recommend any further allowance being made. The matter of fire insurance naving been referred to the committee, they recommended that ; seeing that the Government contribute largely to the Charitable Aid Fund, the application be favourably considered as the policies mature. The Chairman, on the question of increasing the grant to the widow of the son of the late S. C. Moule, stated that ho had taken the advice of the solicitor to tho Board, whose opinion was that tho Act was strictly drawn to carry out the instructions of the Board, and it would now be necessary, if the Board wished to increase the grant, to introduce fresh legislation to alter the Aot, and it might result in the alteration of tho whole arrangement. He thought, therefore, it would be far better to leave it alone. The report was adopted. It was resolved that the visit of tho Charitable Aid Committee to Southland be arranged by the Committee.