CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1987, 24 March 1892, Page 13

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of the Charitable Aid Board, held in the Town Hall on Thursday, was attended by Messrs J. Uobin (in the chair), H. Clark, J. Green, P. Miller, J. It. Mon'aon, 11. Gourley, and H. F. Hardy.

A requisition from the Benevolent Institution amounting to L 678 6s lOd was passed for payment. The Clerk of the Clutha County Council wrote acknowledging a list of those in receipt of relief within the county from the Benevolent Institution, and asking for a report on same. In reply, he stated that the council, having made several reconimendations, of which no notice was taken, declined to make any further recommendations in the matter. The Benevolent Trustees gave notice that they would forward the inspector's report (which, according to press reports, was very much incorrect), but had not done so. Mr Miller moved — 'That the letter be received, and that the secretary write to the trustees, asking them why these reports had not been forwarded." It was indispensable that the trustees should have the support of the county councils.

The Chairman : I asked the secretary to forward a copy of this letter to the trustees, but as yet we have received no reply. Mr Gourley said it might save time if he stated that the trustees had a copy of the letter before them at their meeting on the previous day, and that was the first intimation they got that the county councils wanted these reports. In compliance with the request contained in the letter, the secretary was instructed to forward the report at once. The Chairman : I am glad the trustees recognise the necessity of sending these reports. The motion was then seconded and carried.

The Secretary of the Benevolent Trustees wrote that the trustees had considered the question of applying a portion of the invested funds for maintenance purposes, as suggested by Mr Robin, and they had decided not to comply with the request, as they did not consider such an emergency had arisen as was contemplated by the Legislature. The Chairman : Just the reply I expected. The letter was received.

The Committee of the Female Refuge notified that they would requite no money this month, the earnings of the inmates being sufficient to meet expenditure.

The communication was received, the Chairman remarking amidst laughter that the Benevoent Trustees should be handed over to these ladies.

St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson, applied for L 94 18s 6d. — The amount was passed for payjnent,

The Caversham Industrial School was granted L2OO.

The Chairman : I will give you some idea of the amount required by us for next year over that required for last year. We paid LI2OO over the estimate to the Benevolent Institution, and the Industrial School wants L 793 over last year's estimate. The Benevolent Institution's estimate is over LSOO more than last year, and, these three 'sums being taken together, some L 2493 will be wanted from the public next year more than what was wanted last year. Mr Gourley : Make it in round numbers L3OOO.

The Chairman ; We will have to put on a vote of L 1246 more than last year, and I must tell you that Dunedin. city will pay L 416 of that amount, j The Secretary reported that estimates for the , ensuing year were as follow :— Benevolent Institu- i tion, L9OOO : Caversham Industrial School, L 3393; Female Refuge, L2OO. The estimate of the St. Mary's Industrial School was not to hand. !

Mr Hardy moved that the same amount be recommended aa last year, and that the trustees be recommended to use the strictest economy possible. ■ i Mr Green would second the motion if Mr ' Hardy would move that the application be granted this time ; but that the trustees be asked to exercise the greatest economy. i Mr Hardy eventually agreed to this. The Chairman said he thought that the amount the trustees would require next year would be greatly reduced. Doubtless the deranged state of Wje labour tqarjeet \n, ijhe pa,sfy 4u,q to th . c strike,

was the cause of the strain on the board's finances; but the market had now recovered itself, and there should be no unemployed. He had honed also that the wise measures passed last session would begin to take clTeot now, and he did not think that there would be any unemployed at the beginning of next summer. Mr Green said several of the trustees had similar hopes, but they were not realised. The motion was then carried, and it was decided to recommend that the other items be also passed.