THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITABLE AID.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 28

THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITABLE AID.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Auckland, July 8. There is great dissatisfaction in the country districts at the present method of charitable relief. Ab the last meeting of the Coromandel Hospital Board several accounts from the Auckland Hospital Board for patients who claimed Coromandel as their district were considered, and members spoke strongly as to the manner in which these charges wero sometimes brought about under the present system. They said that men could go to Auckland iv pcr c ect health from Coromandel with their cheque* ia their pockets, get on the spree in the city, meet with an accident and be taken to the hospital, and charges were sent down to Coromandel at the rate of 28s per week. The cases have become so numerous, and the charges of the Aacklaud Hospital Board are considered so excessive, that Captain Swindley proposed the following resolution — "That the Auckland Hospital Board be requested to Btate at what price por 100 they will treat all patients taken in on account of claiming Coromandel as their district, and regarding whose admission to the Auckland hospital or etherwise the Coromandel board has no voice." This was carried. Tha Chairman of the Bay of Plenty board, in writing to the Auckland board thai; th°.y had not funds to pay a claim of £32 10j and costs till the end of August, said ha was sorry to say that the Auckland board had helped to a considerable extent in placing the Bay of Plenty board iv such an unfortunate position "by the indiscriminate manner ia 'which it admitted into the hospital all sorts and conditions of men and women, without saying by your leave to the Biy of Plenty board. ' Tho Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has forwarded a return to the Government of relief for the year. The total relieved by board and benevolent societies was' Ib4B, of which in'ioor relief at the Costley Home represented 314, and outdoor relief from thi> Charitable Aid Board 993. The rations issued in town were 173,401, in the country 38,967, and at the Costley Home 62,638, makiDg a tot&l of 279,706. The cash paid for food in the country district* was £356 16s sd, paid for rent and board £338 8< 6d, and paid to the benevolent societies £836.