HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15124, 13 October 1909, Page 5

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

THE GOVERNMENT BILL. [Fbom Our CoRBEsr-oNnENT.]

' WELLINGTON, October 12. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill introduced in the- House of Representatives by Governor's message ii> largely a consolidating measure. There are, however, ' some important amendments of the existing law proposed. For every hospital district there is to be a hospital and charitable aid board, consisting of one or more representatives of each of the contributory districts. It is provided, however, that where it is deemed expedient districts may be combined for purposes of representation. In regard to elections and boards, it is provided that every elector in the district shall have a vote, and elections will be conducted under the provisions of the Local Elections Act. The cost of the election is to bo borne by the contributing local authority. A representative- must be an elector of a contributory local authority. When the staff of any hospital under the control of a board, comprises more than live registered medioat practitioners the Governor may, on on© recommendation of those practi-uionc-iM or a majority of thorn, appoint of their number to bo a member of tho board. On the establishment ./l. u hospital and charitable aid_ board ■inder this Act the property of dissolv«o bodies will vest in' the new board, vlneh will take over contracts, debts and liabilities. The newly-formed hospittil and charitable aid board will ■lave the control and management of «very institution or- separate institution which becomes vested in it, every | hospital tor infectious diseases antt ©very -institution which is established under the authority of the Act or transferred to tho board. Every hospital and charitable aid board is to nave the administration of charitable aid within its district. No appointment of any medical officer other than an honorary medical officer or of a master, manager or matron of any institution is ~to bo mr.de initio the Minister has given his written approval of the proposed appointment. During e-ach financial year, unless the Minister of Finance is satisfied that the board has sufficient funds to carry out its functions, a subsidy will bo paid to each board out of the Consolidated Fund on the fallowing scale:—(l) 10s for every £1 of the value of all devises or bequests; (2) 24s for every £1 of voluntary contributions, £1 for every £1 levied by the board from contributory local authorities, the subsidy not to exceed £SOO in respect of the estate of a single testator. If any local authority fails to pay its contribution the Minister of Finance may deduct the amount from any subsidy payable to it and pay the amount to the board. It is also provided that if a contributory local authority is dissatisfied with the board's apportionment of expenditure, it may appeal to the Minister, who, ii ho thinks fit, may appoint a commissioner to inquire into the matter, and afterwards deal with the matter as he thinks fit. When in any part of a hospital district there is no contributory local authority tho Valuer-General is to be deemed'to be the contributory local authority, but the district will not be represented on the board. The amount required by the board in such a case will be raised by the ValuerGeneral by rates on the capital value ol all property in the district. Power is also given to tho hospital and charitable aid board to establish new institutions for the treatment of persons suffering from any disease, charitablo institutions of various kinds, maternity homes, convalescent homes, sanatoria for consumptives, institutions for the reception of habitual inebriates, reformatories for women or girls, and so on.