The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, JAN, 20, 1879.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5586, 20 January 1879, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, JAN, 20, 1879.

To give point to the remarks we made a few days ago upon the difficulty of establishing the Charitable Institutions upon a satisfactory basis, we will borrow an idea from geometry. There is a line called an Asymptote, which continually approaches nearer to some curve, hut which, though continued infinitely, would never meet. This peculiar relation to each other appears to belong to the Government and to the local bodies in North Canterbury, on the subject of the management of Charitable Institutions. A year ago a Conference of some of those bodies agreed to principles which seemed to be in substantial agreement with those laid down by the Government; but no union took place ; and only a few dayshave elapsed since another Charitable Aid Conference, of delegates from the local bodies of North Canterbury, discussed the subject and passed resolutions which approach more closely to agreement with the proposals of the Government, and yet indefinitely postpone their acceptance. It is often difficult for a man to convince any other who differs, from him on principles, but, paradoxical as it may seem, it is sometimes more difficult for men who agree in principles and only differ in details to unite in common action. We are at a loss to see, from the discussion which recently took place, any essential difference between the Government and the great majority of the Conference. Mr John Hall who, of all the members of the Conference, is the most clearbeaded on the whole subject, put the matter very properly, when he expressed his opinion " that such institutions should be managed by those who had a local knowledge and an interest in economical management.” The prin--1 oiple, that loeal contribution follows local management was also recognised by him and by most of the other members. The chief difficulty raised was as to the mode, in case of the establishment of local management, of compelling the payment of contributions. There was considerable in the minds of some members on the subject of the subsidies paid by the Government to local bodies, and as to the payment proposed to be mode by the Government in aid of Charitable Institutions, and questions, in connection with these points were, needlessly raided on the whole subject of the financial policy established by the Legislature. Further, no one seemed to realise as fully as it ought to be realised that the Government have pqwer under the present law to make the necessary deductions from tho subsidies in case of any local body refusing to pay its share, but the proportions must bo graduated according to the amount of the subsidies. The possession of this power removes much of the difficulty os to the mode of compelling tho payment of contributions. The confusion of ideas in relation to Colonial subsidies to local bodies, and to Colonial contribution in aid of charitable institutions can be easily dispelled. There is no connection between the two. except m case of deficient local contributions to such institutions. The Government pay pound for pound os subsidies to local bodies, and pound for pound in aid of charitable institutions. Both payments

are separately mode, wad out of the Consolidated Fund. But xf tue charitable institutions are not sufficiently maintained, that is to say, local contributions do not amount to half the yearly cost, the deficiency can bo advanced by the Government and stopped out of subsidies payable to tno local bodies concerned. , The first resolution passed by tbe Conference recognises the principle of local management of hospitals and charitable institutions, but states that such management cannot be effectually provided for without legislative provision for the purpose. No member of the Conference referred to the fact that there is already legislation on the subject, Four sections in the Financial Arrangements Act of last session expressly relate to the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions, The fifth section provides that, when the cost of their maintenance devolves on the Government, the Treasury can make the necessary deductions from subsidies payable to the Counties and Boroughs concerned, —the deductions to be in proportion to the amount of the subsidies. The sixth section provides that, when the institutions are locally maintained and managed, the Consolidated Fund shall pay to them a contribution of pound for pound on all subscriptions locally received, whether from County or Borough rates, or from private benevolence. The seventh section enables the local managers of any hospital or charitable institution to make contracts for its maintenance. The eighth section enables the Colonial Treasurer, in case of any local body failing to make good a deficiency, to deduct from a subsidy payable to it, in: proportion to-the amount of the subsidy* what may be necessary. This' legislation.-, is not all that is required, but its existence should not be ignored, for it is practically sufficient to - - enable' effect to be given to what appears to be ' generally desired. The second resolution, carried by a majority of one, negatived by direct affirmation to the contrary the motion of Mr Hall that the proposals of the Government should be temporarily accepted; and added a disapproval of the voluntary aid principle. We need not farther refer to the question of legislation as a reason for that postponement. Nor does there appear to be any weight in the latter part of ■ the resolution. Voluntary aid is not made an essential condition to the maintenance of the institutions ,- it is only a contingent aid. Surely the Council is not so Quixotic as to recommend the refusal of a private subscription, or a private bequest, if it should be offered to a charitable institution. And if the offer is accepted, why should not the pound for pound from the Government in respect of it be also accepted P As the law is at present, the Government are bound to contribute a sum equal to any private subscription, however large. And there is nothing to prevent also local rates. But the wish of the Conference would appear to be that all private benevolence in the case of charitable institutions should be stifled and made unlawful. At B[ome, the great Hospitals and other Charitable Institutions, which are the glory of our nation, owe their existence to voluntary subscription. The acceptance of the proposals of the Government, under the authority of the “Financial Arrangements detof 1878 “ would substantially have ensured the advantage of local knowledge and local interest in the management of our Charitable Institutions. Details could easily have been settled. We should have advanced another step in local self-government. As it is, should the recommendation of the Conference prevail with the local bodies, we shall be condemned for another year, and it may be for longer, to a continuance of centralism of the worst kind. For a worse kind scarcely be imagined than one in which the cost of maintenance of a department is made local, and the course of management is made central. The local bodies and the Charitable Institutions will both suffer.