NORTH AUCKLAND HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1888, Page 3

NORTH AUCKLAND HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETES'G. The first meeting of tho newly elected Board was held at the Ootmcil Chamber, Whangarei, on Wednesday. The members met at 3 p.m. Present : — Messrs P. S. Brown, J. I. Wilson, Snelling, Scon, Hunter, Ward, Quirk, J. M. Dargaville ; and Mr It. Mair, Secretary. Mr Dargaville moved, "That MiHunter take the chaiy." Seconded by Mr Scon, and carried. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Native Department, referring to a report from Mr Clarke, of Otonga, to the effect that the natives of Wbangarti were dying from typhoid. Letters in reference to this matter were read from Constable Hogg, and Messrs Green way and Whimp, which went to show that Mr Clarke's report had been greatly exaggerated. Mr Brown spoke at considerable length on the subject, to tho effect that, as tlm Maories were all property owners, ami received royalty for gum and timber, they could not be entitled to Charitable aid. A letter from the Native Department was read, as follows : — Native Office, November 12, ISSB. Sir,— l have the honour, by direction of the Hon. Mr Hislop, in the absence of the Hon. the Native Minister, to inform yon that, after carelul consideration, the Government have decided that, for the future, indigent persona of the Native race, who require charitable aid or free medical attendance, must look to the local bodies who are in receipt of subsidies to provide for charitable aid, to meet these requirements, and that such bodies must be held responsible to provide what may be necessary. I am to add. if cases are brought under notice of the Government in which the local body is neglecting to fulfil its responsibility in this direction, the necessary provision will be arranged by tbe Department, and the cost deducted from the subsidy due to the local body. I am also to add, that should it appear that the burden thus ca3t upon any local body in any year is out of proportion to the rates received in respect to Native lands or subsidies, special application may be made to 'this Department, if such body has fulfilled its duty with respect to the sick and indigent, and the Government will consider in all such cases whether any special aid should be given. lam further to say, that the Minister hopes that in all cases of Maories of means an effort will be made to recover from them, in the same manner as if they were Europeans, any money expended for their benefit. — t have, &c. F. W. Lewis, Under Secretary. R. Mair, Esq., Secretary, N.A.H. & 0.A.8d. This letter was the subject of much discussion. Mr Dargaville was of opinion that the Charitable Aid Board should at once take some decided steps on this subject, as they were receiving no rates from the natives, and yet the Government expected them to afford the natives charitable aid and medical assistance. Mi* Scon said the Government appoared to bo under the impression that the native rate was of benefit to the Board, forgetting that the native rate had to be spent on native lands. Mr Snellixo doubted if the Government could force the Beard to distribute aid to the natives without the authority of Parliament. Many other members also spoke on the subject, and the following resolution was moved and carried : — " 'lhat the petition to Parliament, re aid to natives, as drafted by Mr Snelling, ha signed and printed, and copies circulated among tbe County Councils in the North Island." The petition is as follows : — To the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand, in Parliament Assembled. Tbo humble petition of the undersigned represent ng the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board shewith:— 1. — That no power to rate the lands of the aboriginal natives for the purpose of hospital and charitablo aid is vested in the Hospital and Chaitable Aid Board; but,

that (he nrea of ratable land is limited to tho lands h. Id by persons of European origin. 2— l?i,'it; ty> sepnrjiie .grnnt is receivable from i-ha Uhi~vi)rHtiui t \U,}:i£liti'>q.ti> qr oiyjccotmt of nssistancegvaiitc-Itj-the' H6'sptft£[ -ifxti Aid Board to aborgiriai natives. [ -i — "Thtt t! l( ? limited amount of rate 3 now pay- i I able on acemmfc of Crown Lands is being I gradually diminished, «nd Will portly 4— Q'JjrttevjjHtrHjoMPe^f lands hold" separately by ft iiittySj m«W grant from the Crowin ./t, .h'ps.beeft fptftkl ifflprwblo to coinnef \lfAilot6 tq pay £>£pr ..ibprifnflft t^ wards the cosE hi . .^oßpftst , 4^? cßwrtrthto aid afforded them, as such gr&cts. comam (Clauses traking sqch. lands inviolable. s— That the.llosyjital nnd Charitable Aid Board appeaft tc* Vavo no practicable powers to compel the relatives of fit? aboriginal native who may be receiving relief to contribute towards the support of such persons. 0— Tftn>fc pwiag to .the qorom anal .system nncler the aboriginal natives live, it cannot be held tlWt Rl!y fl*WtajmJ m natiye is a proper subject for hpspUal and tlfaritetble aid, seeing that the individual has a claim for assistance upon the whole body of aboriginal natives which collectively can support him. 1 —That uevertlieless your petitioners find them Sel«ejs.£alip4 upcth bjM% poveniment to administer relief fa .abongyial natives, , t B— That if the position ta&cn up'py.tno,(pioy eni- ;- ment be maintained, the effect will no to bring a very lai^ge. portion of the aboriginal natives upon the funds of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which Board have no means of ascertaining their individunl claims to land, and consequently no means .of recovering expenses incurrcdupon them tinder these. fcirc'uftistrtliees your" petitioners corisJderit nufnst, thrtt they shonjd.b'e recfu'ifedl t6 give aid to nltonginiil nrttive? utilesa tfteir iinds ariif jifUpSvtf bVj rifted and field liable respectively for sucK pjrtrbosea, or a lien bo taken by tho Government thereon for sach , purposes ; and your petitioner^, pray tha^ your Honourable House vrllt makp suyji , altejations in tho Acts relating to hospital ond ctinrltablo aid and the rating of Native lands, arid by such other meau3, as will remove the injustice under which they labour, in the administration of hospital and charitable aid assistance. And your petitioners will ever pray. .Mr SEq*r moved,- 'That Mr W. A. Carrnih be s6iicit6¥ tt(, thb Boarjrt." Seconded by Mr Dargavillc, aria carried. Mr Snelino moved, "That tho regresentatives of the Whangarei County ouncil be a Committee to deal with current business of the Board in tin intervals betweon the meetings of the Board." Seconded by Mr Scon, and carried. Mr Sxellino moved, "That the Chairman of the Board and any member of the Committee be authorised to sign chequeßj with the Treasurer.*' Seconded by Mr Dargavillo, and carried* Mr SEOtf moved, « 'Iliat the Commitlee be authorised, in all cases when expedient, to instruct tho solid! or to tho Board to sue for refunds of monies disbursed for hospital and charitable aid expenses.'' Seconded by Mr Dargaville, and carried. Mr Spelling moved, "That this Board reply to the letter of tho IGth of November from tho Native Offico, that no application for medical assistance had been received from the natives of Whangarei ; and that this Board have caused enquiry to bo made, and have found that the natives am only suffering from the ailments usual amongst tliom at this season of the year, and do not appear to bo in need of aid ; and that they are in a position to pay for it themsolvea." Seconded by Mr Ward, and carried. Balance Sheet of the Hwtpital ami Charitable Aid Hoard for the year vmlinq 31*£ March, 1888. Receipts.' ■

Robert Hair, Treasurer. Examined and found correct, except in regards the sum of £;5 3/6 paid for hotel expenses for members of the Board, for which there is no authoiity of law, and which is therefore disallowed. .. James Edwabd Fitzoehald, Auditor General. Mr Dargaville moved, "That the Committed, as soon as practicable, prepare a statement showing the estimated revenue and expenditure up to tho end of March next, and that copies bo sent to tho members for the information of the several counties." Seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried. Mr Seox moved, " That the accounts as read, amounting to £63 14/, be passed ; payments to be made when funds are available." Seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried. Mr Snellixg moved, "That the Auditor - General be informed, with reference to his objection to the sum of £5 3/6 for hotel expenses for members attending the Hospital and. Charitable Aid Board meeting at Whangarei, that members have to travel long distances, involving sometimes many days in going and returning, and that the Board do not think that it was the intention of the legislature that members of the Board should be denied food during their journies by road, as such is included in ste.iinboat fares, and would be glad to learn whether his contention has been subjected to and concurred in by the legal adviser of Government." Secouded by Mr Brown, and carried. The question of County Councils being constituted separate Boards for the administration of Charitable Aid was discussed at length. Mr Dakgaville objected to County Councils administering the Act themselves, and thought if the Board moved in the matter, they would find thomselves worso off. Mrßnowx ultimately moved, "That the members for the Northern Districts be requested to urge upon tho Government the necessity of subdividing tho present large and unwieldly Board, and to constitute each county a Board to administer their own charitablo aid." Seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried by four to three. Mr Sneluxo referred to tho endowment question, and thought some move should be mado in the matter. After some discussion Mr Daugaviixk moved, "That the members for the district North of Auckland district.- be requested to use their influence with the Government and with Parliament towards obtaining substantial endowments in aid of hospital and charitable aid, as the ordinary rates are entirely inadequate to enable the Board to perform its functions." Seconded by Mr Scon, and carried. Mr Snellixg moved, " That the Com-

mitteo of tlio Ec'nr'T l>o .aii'th'prisc-cl to} propn.ro fi petition £<> r.irairncilt; r*"!"!^ that .substantial endowment t> the several counties contributing ho granted ta.tbe North Auckland District, to aid the victorae available, for the purposes of hospital ancf cfyd'r.tt'u'ble - n iri/ £tf Recoup the said coxtiiiisg f.cfr fiJVe loss oil thoir j »ii«ri? io the endowments citt off by the I third pati of Section 30 of tho Amendment Act of 1880." Seconded by Mr "Ward, nnd carriou. Mr FSbox moved, " Tliat the Cliai/'iiimi bo aiftn'otised to pay tho travelling i expenses of the ftfonibft-S tit tho Board to this mnclirig on roficipt of five' neeoHtit and jLisual . deolaratidirf.'.' . BScorided by !Mr Dargaville. and carried. Mr D^CRGATItLE moved, "That with a view to tab 'es^aMisbruent of cottage hospitals, and the more economical administration of the Boards funds thereby, the several County Councils be again rV^nCsted fo make the best terms they can with local nieOAcal gentlemen ; and such arrangements so made' to be subject, to confirmation by the j, Board." Seconded by Mr Snelling, and f carried. f A! vote of fhanltß f<> tiro Chairman eric!c?# tt'o ISWivessV

. / £ r. a. By ccmtntmtfcmrfrom counties 380 4 3 „ Private contribution, son County . . „ 8 0 0 „ -Subsidy by Government . . 307 1G 2 Total .. .. £790 0 5 ExpENniTtniE £ s. <1. To salaries . . . . . . 2 0 0 „ Travelling expenses . . 31 15 0 „ Office expenses .. „ 818 3 „ Charitable Aid . . . . ,529 U 1 „ Printing and advertising.. 1 10 0 „ Medical attendance .. 9 0 0 „ Balance in Bank . . . . 236 1 7 „ Cheques not, presented .. 28 18 6 Total .. .. ,£790 0 5 Assets. Cash .' 207 3 1 Mongonni county contribution 40 13 G Total .. .. fM7 is 7