CHARITABLE AID BOARD,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10240, 24 December 1894, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD,

The annual statutory meeting of the Charitable Aid Board was held in the City Council Chambers on ths 6th inst., when thera were present—'Messrs J. Robin and P. M'Gregor, representing the City of Dunedin ; Mr J. Hazlett, representing Vincent County and the Boroughs of Alexandra, Cromwell, Roxburgh, and Tapauui; Mr J. F. Christian, Maniototo County and the Borough of Naseby ; Mr P. Miller, Tuapeka County and the Borough of Lawrence; Mr H. Clark, Brace County and the Boroughs of Milton and Kaitangata; Mr D Wallace, Clntha County and the Borough of Balclutha; Mr W. Snow, Taieri County and the Boroughs of Mosgiel and Green Island; Mr J. Green, M.H.R., tha Counties of Waikouaiti and Waihemo; Mr H. Gourley, the Peninsula, Portobello, and Tomahawk Road Boards and the Boroughs,of St. Kilda and South Dunedin; Mr J. R. Monson, tha Boroughs of Port Chalmers, West Harbour, Palmerston, and Hawksbury.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr GouRtEY moved and Mr Green seconded the re-election of Mr Robin to the position of chairman. The motion was carried unanimously. KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE. The following report was submitted by the committee:—

Gentlemen,—ln presenting you with'a report of our transactions in regard to the affairs of the board at this, the statutory annual meeting, we desire to state that our figures and remarks apply , in the main to the period commencing April 1 last, that being the commencement of the statutory financial year, and the date up to which the financial operations quoted in our report subemitted at the board meeting on May 10 last dealt with. We now beg to submit the following information in regard to the several institutions having claims upon the board. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. During eight months of the current financial year the claims of the Benevolent Institution Trustees for maintenance have amounted to the sum of £7174 9a sd. This sum, if paid in full, would exceed the ratio of the trustees' estimate for the year as a whole by £50716s Id; but, as your committee have only sanctioned the payment of £7029 16s 3d up to the present, it will be seen that actual payments exceed the estimate by £ibi & Id For the corresponding period of last year the amount paid was £6907 Is Sd, being £12214s 7d less that the amount paid by ua this year, and £267 7s 9d less than the trustees' claims, thus showing an increase of the institution expenditure (as compared with last year) of a very considerable amount. The number of outdoor relief cases on the books of the institution, as at the Ist November last, is as follows:—Dunedin City 155, suburban 103, country 152;— total, 410. At the corresponding date of last year the numbers were: lmnedm City 155, suburban and country 246; — total, 401. The ahove figures show an increase of nine cases as compared with last year; but as changes are of almost daily eccurrence, and as the increase is comparatively slight, we think it unnecessary to make any special comment en this subject. Ihe number of inmates of the institution on the Ist November last was 252, as against 229 at the corresponding date of last year, thus showing an increase of 23. In further reference to outdoor relief cases, we find that the total amount of relief granted weekly to the 410 cases above-mentioned amounts to £126 Bs, being an average of 6s ljd to each case. The average to each case for the correspondiog neriod of last year was about ss. Whilst expressing regret at the increase of expenditure on account of this institution, your committee think it necessary to say that in their opinion every credit should be given to the trustees for their earnest endeavours to work the institution economically and efficiently all round. Whether the increased expenditure is due to a defective system, or to increasing poverty and scarcity of work, or a lack of self-dependence in the community, is too wide a question for us to enter upon lere We can only hope that the trustees may in future be able to show a reduction both in the number of recipients and in the amount of relief granted. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. The claims for support of indigent children in industrial schools during the period under review have been as follows: — i Caversham Industrial School ... £1,65S 8 8 St. Mary's Industrial School ... 281 16 6 Auckland Industrial School ... 55 11 9 Burnham Industrial School ... 19 10 0 £2015 611 For the corresponding period of last year the claims amounted to £1770 13s, showing a difference of £244 13a lid against the period under review. According to the latest returns, the number of children in the several schools for whose maintenance the board is responsible is as follows :— Caversham Industrial School, 211; St. Marys Industrial School, 28; Auckland Industrial School, 6; Burnham Industrial School, 2 ;—total, 247. At the corresponding date of last year the numbers were: — Caversham School, 186; bt. Mary's School, 23; Auckland School, 6; Burnham School, 4 ;— total, 219, showing an increase of 28 in the number of children. The foregoing information shows that both in point of the number of children and expenditure our liability on account of industrial schools is an ever-increas-ing one. In the natural order of things we can hardly expect other results, since the number of children in the community being an increasing quantity, it is only reasonable to infer that the number of unfortunates will increase in a corresponding degree. The Caversham Industrial School Board of Advice, appointed some time ago on behalf of the Government and ths board jointly, continue to exercise their functions in a manner calculated to conserve the best interests of all concerned, so far as their limited powers extend. DUNEDIN FEMALE REFUGE. This institution, we are pleased to state, con tinues to be managed in an economical manner by the Ladies' Committee. The subsidies required from the board during the paat eight months for maintenance amount to £93, being £40 6s 8d under estimate. For the corresponding period of last yoar the subsidies amounted to £81 10a, and the amount under estimate to £48 IBs Sd, thus showing a slight increase in the requirements of the institution, owing possibly to a decrease in the amount of laundry work obtainable. Since last meetiag of the board we are pleased to state that in response to application made by us the Government have granted a sum of £700 towards carrying out niuch-ueeded repairs and improvements in the institution. Tne agreement drawn up by the Government specifying conditions in regard to the expenditure of this money has, vinder authority of your committee, been signed by the chairman, and a sub-com-mittee has been appointed to get plans prepared and generally supervise the work. We trust that our action in this matter will meet with your approval. We beg to compliment the Ladies' Committee on the care and attention which thny continue to bestow on the affairs of the institution. On the motion of Mr Miller, the report was adopted. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE, ETC. On the motion of Mr Hazlett, the retiring committee — Messrs Green, Snow, Clark, Gourley, Miller, Monsoa, Owen, Hardy, and Robin —were reappointed with the substitution of the name of Mr M'Gregor for that of Mr Owen. The chairman was reappointed treasurer. The secretary was instructed to ask the boroughs of Maori Hill, North-Easb Valley, and Koslyn to elect a member of the board. On the motion of Mr Milleb, it was resolved

;o instruct the executive committee to endeavour ;o have the date of tha annual meeting altccad i,> that it might beheld assarly ivs possible after ;he 31sb of March.

HOSPITAL BOARD. The annual meeting of the Hospital Board wbs then held and was attended by Messrs J. RoMn (chairman), John Bobfctts, H. Gouvley, J B Monson, J. Green, M.H.8., P. M'Gregor, H. Clark, W. Snow, D. Wallace, A. bolouwn, a-.isi C. Fisher. ELKCTION OF CHAIRMAN. On the motion of Mr GocrnLKr, Mr Eobin was re-elected chairman. committee's report. Tha report of the committee of the Hospital Board wad read as follows :— To the members of the Otago District Hospital ISoard. ~, , . Gentlemen,— In accordance with usual custom we bra* to present you at this, tho so-called annual meeting of the board, with the following report of our transactions during eight months qt the current financial year commencing Ist April las** The expenditure sanctioned by us for maintenance of the Dunediu Hospital durin? the past eight months, together with the amount which should have been required according to the ratio of the trustees' estimate, is as follows :— Amount required for hospital maintenance according to estimate ...£ibOO 0 0 Amount paid for hoapital maintenance '""" ■' 4 Amount under estimate .£73 10 S We are pleased in being able to congratulate the trustees on being able up to the present time to keep their requirements from the board so well within estimate, and hope r,hat the same will continue to be a feature iv connection with hospital management; always keeping in view the general efficiency of the institution. It will be remembered that in our last report, presented at board meeting of the 10th May last, it was shown that the trustees asked for the sum of .£7OO over their estimate for actual maintenance, the same being required for tbe purpose of assisting in the erection of a new laundry. We understand that the erection of the new laundry is now being proceeded with, but as yet no claim has been made upon the board ou account of the It is satisfactory to learn that the trustees, with the aid of contributions,- bequests, and Government subsidies, have been enabled to make substantial additions, alterations, and improvements in the hoapital without assistance from the board. The report was adopted without comment. ELECTION OF COMMITTKB, ETC. The following committee were elected: — Messrs Fiaher, Hardy, Monson, Clark, Green, M'Gregor, Snow, and Robin. Mr Eobin was appointed treasnrer.