CONFLICTING OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1135, 24 May 1911, Page 6

CONFLICTING OPINIONS.

We have not space to-day to discuss the very admirable speech delivered by Mn. Heriues at Palmerston North last evening, but we would commend it to the attention of our readers. Mr. Heuiiies is always interesting. He has a broad grasp of public questions; is pronounced in his opinions and generally makes his points in a clear and often original way, driving them home at times with a shrewd humour that is often more effective than sledgehammer tactics. With Mn. Massey as vigorous and as active as ever in his campaigning, and assisted as he has never been before by the leading members of his party, such as Messrs. J. Aele.v, Herihes, Herdman, and others, the country should be left in no doubt as to the merits of the programme of the Reform party,_ nor as to the high personal qualities and experience and judgment in business and public affairs of the men the people of New Zealand arc to bo asked next December to entrust with tho conduct of the country's business.

: } CHARITABLE AID BOAEDS: OLD AND NEW. (By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, May 23. At a recent meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Mr. D. iiobertson was reported as saying: "These boards are failures. They are not half as good as the old boards. The whole of these boards in tho Dominion are not very well managed at present. There is a great deal of cross action going on. Members of the board do things of which I as a member know nothing until

they aro decided. The board wants remodelling in many respects regarding the working of tho two institutions." Tin's somewhat sweeping condemnation of tho operation of the new Act was brought under the notice of Mr. V. Horroll, chairman of tho North Canterbury Hospital Board by a. "Press" representative.

"Mr. Robertson makes lather a bold statement,"'said Mr. Horrejl, "when he claims that the wholo of the. boards in the Dominion arc failures. As a member of tho old boards, both Hospital and Charitable Aid, my opinion is quite tho reverse of Mr. Robertson's. Of course, I speak of the North Canterbury district only. As you know, we have a system of appointing committees to carry on the various branches 0/ the work. Two of these (hospital and charitablo aid) meet fortnightly regularly. The others (finance, institution, and public health) meet monthly, or oftener 'if required. Their reports arc read at the monthly meeting of the board, so that it is their own fault if members do not Bet. all the information they require. Under tho old system there was continual friction arising belwcen the two hoards, and also with the Samaritan Home authovilu's, much to tho discomfort of the applicants, as to whose duty it was to see to their needs, but, with one board I can confidently say this state of affairs is remedied. On the general working of the North Canterbury Board, I can conscientiously say that all tho members are endeavouring to do their duty to their hot ability and that there is no friction whatever. While speaking of the management of lwards, I think the matter could well be discussed at t lie forthcoming conference with a view of having some uniformitv throughout the Dominion. Jf mutter's are not working smoothly in Wellington, I don't think it is the fault of (he Act. as Mr Robertson would infer,-but rather a want of management on Hie part of the board "