THE NEW BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 76, 1 April 1910, Page 7

THE NEW BOARD.

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID MR. AITKEN ELECTED CHAIRMAN. The first meeting of the newly-formed Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held to-day. There were present Miss Richmond, Rev. W. A. Evans, Rev. H. Van Staveren, Messrs J. Godber, J. J. Devine, J. E. Fitzgerald, R. C. Kirk, John Smith, G. London, J. G. W. Aitken, B. R. Gardener, F. T. Moore, W. Tompsitt, D. Robertson, W. Galloway, A. H. Hindmarsh, J. Trevor, H. Baldwin, and J. W. M'Ewan. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, was voted to the chair, and remarked that the duties before the board were many and onerous. He had no doubt that the members would carefully weigh them before taking action. It seemed to him that, in addition to the election of chairman, they would be asked to consider the election of a secretary, and perhaps it would be as well to set up committees. As they knew, under section 64 of the Act they were entitled to set up committees composed of persons not necessarily members of the board, and he ventured to suggest that they should set up a financial committee to go into the resources of the board ; also a policy committee, to go into the general policy of the board in regard to the conduct of the board and the various institutions, and many other matters that had to be considered. The policy committee should, in his opinion, be asked to report to the board as to the various private philanthropic agencies in the district, so that the board might work with them if possible, and in some measure prevent overla Doing and the possible abuse of charitable aid that was now going on. It might also be as well to ask some of the trustees of the old separate institutions to hold office as a committee of ' the board until the board had definitely decided on its policy. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr. Devine moved that Mr. Aitken be elected chairman, pointing out that Mr. ditken had been returned at the head of the poll, and that, as Mayor of the city for many years, he had displayed great administrative ability. By such a course as he proposed the board would be voicing the opinion of the electors. The motion was seconded by the Rev. i H. Van Staveren. Mr. M'Ewan proposed that Mr. Kirk be elected chairman, urging that it was ! essential to have as chairman a man ' who, like Mr. Kirk, had had long ex- ! perience of the work that would have to be carried out. Mr. Moore seconded the amendment, | and a ballot was taken. The result was the election of Mr. Aitken by 13 votes to 4, and he at once took his seat. In returning thanks, Mr. Aitken said the position was not of his seeking, but he would not shirk the duty that had been put upon him. •There was a great deal of work to be done, and he was sure that all the members would give him their earnest support. He himself had never served oasuch a board as this, but he had watched the work done by the old boards, and he hoped that the present board would discharge its duty as well as those boards had done. Mr. Kirk congratulated Mr. Aitken on the position to which he had be«»n elected. PROVISIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. After some discussion, Mr. G. Willis was appointed temporary secretary of the new board. Mr. Kirk moved that a committee be set up to formulate suggestions as to the best policy to be adopted by the board in initiating its work and controlling the different institutions now under its jurisdiction. The motion was seconded by Mr. Godber, and carried, and the committee was elected as follows : — The Chairman, "Revs. Van Staveren and W. A. Evans, and Messrs. Smith, Devine. London, Trevor, Godber, Kirk, Baldwin, and Gardener. Mr. Kirk also moved that pending the consideration of the report of the Policy Committee, the trustees of the hospital and of the Benevolent Institution be asked to manage those institutions, that local bodies be asked to temporarily disburse charitable aid, and that the chairman and Messrs. Godber, Smith, Devine, Kirk, Gardener, and Tompsitt supervise the work of the Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium. The Rev. H. Van Staverei) urged that the board was quite strong enough to manage these institutions itself, and he moved as an amendment that the management of the institutions be left temporarily in the hands of those members of the board who were members of the old boards. Rev. W. A. Evans suggested that all the members of the board should, in the in*antune, be members of the Hospital Trustees and Benevolent Trustees. Mr. Smith pointed out that the accounts of these boards had not been audited, and the new board should not take over the work as a whole until the accounts were audited. After a good deal of discussion, Mr. Kirk's motion was carried. It was also decided, on Mr. Kirk's motion, that all officers in the employ of the late board be continued temporarily in their present positions. On the motion of Rev. W. A. Evans, a Finance Committee was set up, consisting of the Chairman. Messrs. Kirk, Robertson. Devine, and Godber, and the mover. Mr. Devine was appointed temporary treasurer. This concluded the business.