CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 9471, 16 August 1894, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of the Charitabie Aid Board was held at the Town Hall this afternoon j present—Messrs Robin (chairman), Monson, Owen, Hardy, and Clark.

The following requisitions were passed for payment:—Benevolent Institution, £BSB 13s 9d, for the month of July ; Industrial School, Caversham, £Bl3 3s Od, for the quarter ended on the 30th Juue last; Industrial School, Burnham, £0 15s, for the maintenance of two children ; Female Refuge, £ls, for the month of July. | The treasurer cf the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote asking the co-operation of the Otago Board in requesting the Government to amend the existing Hospitals and Charitable Institution Act of 18S5-86 by the introduction of a clause empowering charitable aid boards to borrow from the bank by way of overdraft, in anticipation of ordinary revenue, an amount not exceeding the total amount of the receipts of the board from the local contributory bodies for the year ended .'slst of March last.—Mr Haki'»y thought that the letter was asking too much.—The Board decided to oiler no objection. Mr John Hislop wrote that at the last meeting of the Industrial School Board of Advice the manager of the Industrial School (Mr Burlinsoii) asked the Board's advice in regard to the several illegitimate children in the school chargeable under the Act to the Charitable Aid Board. The manager of the school was at a loss as to his oilicial duty or authority to take action towards ascertaining the names of the several fathers, so as to compel them to contribute. The writer was instructed by the Board of Advice to submit this matter to the consideration of the charitable aid Irmrdej whose interest it was to see whether the fathers could be found out and compelled to contribute.—Mr Hakdy thought that au effort should be made to compel the fathers to support their children.—The matter was left in the hands of the chairman. Mr James Habens forwarded a letter from the Secretary of Education regarding the Board's request that the uniform rate of 6s 6d a week be charged to charitable aid boards for the maintenance of children. The Minister had given the matter careful consideration, and regretted his inability to accede to the recommendation. He did not see his way at the present time to incur the extra expenditure involved in the proposal, or, as a necessary alternative, to adopt measures that would unsettle children that were now in satisfactory homes. The Minister's reply was considered as very unsatisfactory.

THE FEMALE REFUGE. The Chairman stated that some time ago the Government promised to place a sum of money on the Estimates for the renovation of the Female Refuge. The matter was left in Mr Green's hands, and he had sent the following telegram to the secretary:— "How much was promised for Female Refuge wards? Will £2OO be sufficient to have voted on Supplementary Estimates? 1 ' The secretary had replied to the effect that £2OO would not be sufficient for renovating the Refuge. Messrs Mason and Wales's estimate was £7OO in wood and £BOO in brick, and their report was in the hands of Dr MacGregor. The Government promised to place a sufficient sum on the Estimates to put the Refuge in a thorough state of renovation. He (the chairman) explained that the building was about the oldest ouc in Duncdin, and if a fire broke out there would probably be loss cf life. The Hon. Mr Ward had visited the Refuge, and he had promised to do all ho could to have the building repaired. Mr Hardy thought that they could build a new building for about £7OO. The Secretary (Mr Black) explained that the Board had spent over £3OO in effecting repairs. After some discussion it was decided to instruct the secretary to write to Mr Pinkcrton and to ask him to co-operate with Mr Green in endeavoring to get the Government to fulfil their promise.

HOSPITAL BOARD. Tho monthly meeting of this Board was then held, and attended by the same members.

The Hospital Trustees' claim of £436 10s lOd for maintenance for the month of July was granted. The Chairman explained that the Mayor of Kaitangata had waited upon him aud the secretary with regard to creating a supplementary hospital at Kaitangata. The hospital was to be erected chiefly for the purpose of admitting patients who met with accidents.—The members expressed their approval of tho idea.