AN EARNEST PLEA. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARDS BILL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13110, 8 May 1908, Page 3

AN EARNEST PLEA.

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARDS BILL.

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DISCUSSION BY HOSPITAL BOARD

A special meeting of the Hospital Board was held on Wednesday afternoon to consider tha nevr Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards Bill. Mr w°Pavling presided. The Ohaarmin stated that tJi© meeting was called to consider the committees report on the Bill and to appoint delegates to attend the conference tobe held in Wellington on June Oth. lne committee mnde the following recommendation :—The committee altogether disapproved of the proposals relating to the election of committees jn &u<bdistricts contained in defuses < to lo inclusive, on the grounds that endless friction would arise between the various commit tees and the Board. The Board should consist of i sufficient number of rr.em.bers to allow it to elect its own committee*.

The c.kuse iras approved of. In regard to clause. 21, which provided that tiG consent of the Minister had to bo obtained before any alteration or addition to a building could bo made, the committee euggested that the following proviso should bo added: —"That this section eiha-11 not apply to 3-ny expenditure by the Board for such purposes wHikfli does not exceed 2-3 per cent, of the total contributions receivable from the local authorities comprised in the respective Hospital District. ,,

The Chairman thought that. 25 per cent, was too much. Ho would like to see £100 inserted instead of 25 per cent. They would bo ono Board wJion the Act was pieced, ajid have control of two districts which would give them £14,000 or £10.000. so that 25 percent, would mean a big amount—about £"3000. and ho did not think the Government- would agree to that.

Mr Allison said it was better to put the matter on a percentage baecs instead cf i fixed slum, because though it would ir.co.ri a large sura in tho case of large institutions, it would be a very .small enm to smaller hospitals. He would flgrce to an- alteration not exceeding £tcGO or 2o per cent, of the total whichever vras the greater. The Chairman etated thit the committee interted the 2o per cent, because tJiey felt that all power was boing taken from the Board. After further discussion it was decided to recommend the insertion of the words "involving aai expenditure exceeding £200" in phe clave© of the Act. '

The following recommendations were passed without .discussion: — Clause 23: 'That -the latter portion of this clause providing that the appointment o,f any medical officer or matron shall be s-uibjoet to- tho approval of, the Minister, be struck out." Clause 31: ''Sections (2), (3), (4). limiting the rate of subsidy, your committee consider should by struck out." Clause 39, (1), (2), referring to appeal: "Your committee considers that appeal should be- made, to the Supreme Court, instead of to Commissioners or Minister."

In regard to clause 46 the committee considered "that- all Boards should have power to sell any lands vested in them not considered necessary to hold."

" Mr Horrell said that the Board had several property size from J to J-acre which had been, left to it from time to time. A number of these properties were in a dilapidated condition, and they could not do anything with them, neither let them nor soil them. Tho Charitable Aid Board had _astved permission to sell these properties, and it was in view of the coming amalgamation that lie made the siiipr^estion. Trie Chairman sajd that the properties might bo. a nuisance to the existing Board, but-a future Board might not think so.

The clause was passed. Mr Horrell thought that the mode of election proposed in the Act incurred a very great-deal of unnecessary expense, and it -would be far better if the election was conducted, oa tho present lines. The. Chairman said that the public had clamoured for this for many years, and he was not prenared to say that it was not the better way.

Mr Allison approved of representation by direct election. Mr Horrell brought up the question of employees of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards boi.nig allowed to partkLnate in the superannuation scheme, and Jt was decided to make a recomnvnuation to the conference on tuis point. Messrs Payling, Horrell and Dunlop were appointed delegates to the conference.