CHARITABLE AID FUNDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4317, 28 March 1901, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID FUNDS.

DIVERSION FOR BUILDING PURPOSES. There was a brisk discussion at the animal meeting of the Wellington and Wairarapa United Charitable- Am Board yesterday. When the estimates of expenditure by i-he vurious local bodies ivere read over, Air Tolhurst asked the secretary to the City Benevolent Trustees to explain why the sum o' £ ;00f) was retiuired for that body. Tho secretary replied that out of £oOOC voted for maintenance last year, ;!u Trustees would.have a surplus of £lslk to he-'in the new year with. They be I loved £5001) would be a mple for main tenancy this year, and it was proposed to use the £ISOO for restoring certain portions of the Ohiro Home chat were sulfering from age. Mr To Hi urs fc; Of what material will Vie renewals be built? The secretary : Of wood. Air Tolhurst; Then, the building and its inmates are liable to he burnt? The secretary: Every precaution i taken against fire. ■ Air Hogg asked whether money could ho legally expended on buildings in thi way. ’if was under Ike impression lit? a similar application bud been mao-, but that it was ruled that the Charitable Aid Fund could not be used for such purposes. Mr Tolhurst: The law has been al. tered. Aloney can now be used for buildings. Air Hogg: Then it is much to be regretted.. If faeilitias are afforded for the construction of poor-houses other claims will follow this demand on recount of the Ohiro Home. A.n Old Alan’s Home has been built at Carterton, but, while, furnished with a_ custodian, I am pleased to hear that it can. not find inmates. A member: The old men find their war to Wellington. Air Hcgg; No doubt they do. But

this is a .serious matter. If the Charitable Aid Fund can he voted for buddings, Masterton, Ekotahnna and Parratua. may possibly follow the example of the city Trustees and requisition the Board for the erection of poor-house.-.

-Mr Tolhurst said there was no evidence that the money was urgently required for the Ohiro Home, and he thought the claim .might very well stand over. This £ISOO meant an extra haltpenny in the pound to the ratepayers. The chairman read clause 6 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards Act, 1900, which authorises payments for necessary enlargements and additions. Mr Hogg contended that the restoration or renewal of a building was not an enlargement or an additionMr Tolhurst waft, also doubtful whether the money could be log illy expended in the way proposed. Mr Winder pointed out that money was voted for the hospital, and contended that ifc could also he voted for the Ohiro Home. Mr Hogg thought there was a wide difference between hospital patients and old men and women. He sympathised with the. views of a. recent deputation that waited on the Premier and pointed out how much moie comfortable tlie old people would he it placed on a good bit of soil where they could employ their time, ami perhap- earn a livelihood. Mr Winder; There, is a garden at the Ohiro Home. Mr Hogg: But the situation is said to lie unsuitable. After some further discussion, Air Hogg moved, and Air Molluirst seconded, that the amount to be appropriated bo reduced by £ISOO, that being tlie sum sought to lie expended by the Wellington Benevolent Society for building purposes. Tho proposition was lost on tlie casting vote of the chairman.