CHARITABLE AID MATTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID MATTERS

*& The RcnCvolcnl Institution Truslrcs spent, some time at its meeting on Wednesday discussing the questions' of charitable aid and the accommodation of consumptives. The Charitable- Aid Board wrote that it had resolved to bold over the question of payment- of the trustees' accounts in the meantime. Mr W. Burnett, chairman of the Trustees' Finance Committee, submitted a financial statement, which showed that on November 1 the trustees would have £367 16s, 7d in hand, whilst their monthly oxprndi•ture totalled approximately £800. Mr W. Tallxiys (chairman): Yes, and we started this year with practically £1100 to our credit. Mr K. A. Tapper said he considered that the action of the board was not at all fair. The chairman o! the hoard had complimented the trusters on their economy and the manner in which they had their business; and the. refusal to pay Ihe trustees' accounts was arrived at mi the easting vote of the chairman. A: to (lie question of the tnidcei declining to necommodiite consumptives, it bad been thoroughly discussed Iwlwco-n Dts Yalintino, Gloss, the chairman. Mr lvcCrim. and himself. Dr Yalintino ::nk\ that they wt« perfectly right in stating that in the juca-n----lime they had no Tooin for cmumnplivcs. I All along the trustees bad endeavoured to assist tho hoard in effectng economy. ;uul to assist other bodies in tho matter o: charitable aid and tin; care of llio sick and I suffering. The board's refusal was a very wrong thing. One or two members of the lioaid were trying to force, other meml>cTS of other liodics to do a thing which they ; thought was right, but which the trr.slccs, knowing more, know was wrong. Mr Anderson: Arc you'justified in making those remarks? I have not been coerced in any way. Mr Goliaway assured Mr Anderson that Mr Tanner did not mean coercion. It was simply a question- of some members hiving one point of view, and trying to bring other members round to the same way of thinking. The action tho trustees should take in the matter was to aeon-tain their legal position. Tho whole business was a strong argumenl in favour of one heard instead of four boards. As Dr Vaiintina had said, if was supremely ridiculous to have four boards. He moved that tho board's letter bo referred to the board's solicitors, requesting- (heir advice as to the legal position. Mr Callaway con!ended that' although tho institution did become an adjunct of the Hospital, it was idle to fay that the Benevolent Institution would raise to exist, The old people would have to be provided for. The Chairman said that if the. Government made -provision for an Old Men's Home elsewhere, tho change would be welcomed. Tho motion was : carried. The Chairman then referred In the fact that two lower wards of the institution were to have been renovated. Would the - work be hung up? Failing tho money from the board, the committee could hardly see its way to go on with tho work without obtaining an expression cl tho trustees' opinion, on the matter. Mr Callaway advocated the prosecution of the worl;. The Chairman: Why should wo be sat, upon by the Charitable' Aid Board. Jt is a downright insult to the, trustees. Mr Callaway: The benefiting of poor, 'unfortunate people is of more consequence than our twopenny-ha'ponnv dignity. Co on with the. work. The board will pay tho money. He moved that tho work bo proceeded with. On the motion iving put it was supported by ,-Messrs Tapper and Anderson, Messivs Bridger, Burnett, and the chairman voted against the motion, on the contention that they should wait until tho trustees' legal position was ascertained. The. Chairman gave his casting voto against, the motion. Mr Callaway said that if members of (he Charitable Aid Board bad aelcd like big ilicy were acting tike big babies too. That was what the public would sav The whole question was this: the beard said if you don't like incurables we won't, pay your accounts, and the trustees replied if you won't pay our accounts we won't take your incurables. What was the good of hanging up necessary work because of d . wt of fooling, which would 1» forgotten in a week or two? Mr Tapper contended that the chairman, by giving his tasting voto against the motion, was just nloying into the hand? of the chairman of the board, who gave his casting voto against paying lira trustees' accounts. The discussion then ended.