CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1024, 15 July 1871, Page 8

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

MrLUMSDEN moved, "That an address be presented to His Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the Estimates a sum adequate to the payment of grantß-in-aid to country Hospitals and Benevolent Institutions, at the rate of L 2 to LI contributed by public subscription to these institutions." After several honourable members had expressed themselves as opposed to the motion, in consequence of the unfavourable state of the public funds. Mr BASTINGS said, that if by deferring the expenditure of votes oh public works these institutions could secure payment of the subsidy, he would rather those votes remained unexpended than these institutions should be deprived of pecuniary assistance, and in order that adequate assistance might be rendered, he would walk up to his knees in mud. Mr BASSTIAN, in advocating payment of the subsidy to these institutions, addressed the Committee in a similar strain, and, like Mr Bastings, referred to the probable sufferings of the destitute and afllicted if the necessary pecuniary aid were withheld. Mr REID expressed himself as being equally zealous and anxious to assist charitable institutions, but also considered it his duty to indicate the difficulties by which their attempts to do so, in the absence of sufficient funds, weuld be confronted. Mr REYNOLDS and other honourable members, whilst desirous of aiding, to the fullest extent, charitable institutions, pointed out that it was absolutely absurd to put notices on the paper asking for the expenditure of money when the Government had not at their disposal funds sufficient to meet the demands made. The Committee divided on the motion, when there were found to be — Ayes, 19 ; noes, 11. The motion was therefore carried. The Committee then divided on the question, " That the motion as amended be adopted." (The amendment, moved by Mr Daniel, was that the rate be LI to LI, instead of L 2 to LI.) A division was taken, with the following result — Ayes, 1 9 ; noes, 11. The motion, as amended, was therefore carried. m ■ ■