EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 268, 13 November 1909, Page 7

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Consideration of the Hospitals Bill was continued in Committee.

The Hon. Mr FOWLDS, in accordance^ with notice, moved to omit the words ■' 'but there shall be no representative of the district on the Board of the hospital district" from subclause 1 clause 47, and to add the following; "The Governor may, if he thinks fit, having regard both to the population and to the ratable value of the property in any such part of the hospital district, by Order-in-Council in December each year ap-' point such number of members as he thinks fit, not exceeding three, as representatives of that part of the district on the Board," which was agreed to. At clause 49, providing for moneys belonging to the Board being paid into the bank pending investment,' Mr WITTY (Riccarton) moved to insert words giving the Board power to lodge money with some local authority authorised by statute to borrow money otherwise than from a bank.

After considerable discussion the amendment was defeated by 42 to 23. I On the motion of Sir W. J. Steward, it was decided to delete the %vords in clause 52, subclause 1, providing that no money, land, or property shall, without the consent of -the Minister, be accepted' by the Board m trust for the establishment of any new institution. ~, At' clause ;2& ; - which, provides that >" v tne^Oard 'may■ ;borrow; on sepurity for building afad other purposes, Mr • LUKE (Wellington Suburbs) moved to add words giving the Board power to borrow money by way of special loan under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. 'Thd' amendment was negatived by ■■ 37 t0,20, , , >-:, - ■ ■."■• • ■ Sir'W. J. STEWARD (Waitaki) moved to add to clause 58 tho following words: "In reppect of ordinary mamtenance ex|>eriditure the Board may borrow by way of bank overdraft, provided that such overdraft shall not at any time exceed the total of the unpaid contribution Ivtied upon contributory local aw-

thoriti<\* plus, the amount of subsidy duo but' remaining.. unpaid." The amendment was carried by 33 to 22. At clause C 9, which extends the power of selling, exchanging, or mortgaging land to land held in trusts Mr STALLWORTHY (Kaipara) moved to add "but only with the consent of the Minister." After considerable discussion, The Hon. Mr FOWLDS suggested that to meet the objection of Members to allow Boards to dispose of trust lands Jt clause 56 be altered to read as follows: "A Board may, with the consent of the Minister, sell or exchange any land vested in it other than land held in trust for any special purpose," which was sgreed to on the voices.

Mr Stallworthy's motion was then put and carried by 24 to 20. After midnight, at clause 62, Mr RUSSELL (Avon) objected to the proviso that no new institution should be established or other structural alteration costing over £100, without previous notice in writing to the Minister, and moved to delete the same. .

On a division the amendment was lost by 29 to 28. On the suggestion of Sir W. J. Steward, the amount in the clause was altered from £100 to £250 with the conds#!rence of the Minister. Mr ALLEN (Bruce) moved to ctmendclause 64 in the direction of substituting the Board for the In-spector-General as the authority whose duty it is to decide what provision is necessary in regard to persons suffering from infectious disease. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS said that the clause was intended to prevent Boards from failing to make necessary provision in such a case, which had caused considerable trouble in many districts. . " ■; ■ ao .The amendment was rejected by 62, to 20. . , At 0.50 a.m. the Minister reported progress, and the House rose.