CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2823, 22 April 1908, Page 25

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The regular 'meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, held on Thursday, 16th inst., was attended by Messrs Stevenson (chairman), Mill, Walker, Mosley, Miller, Clark, Knight, Aitken, Anderson, and Dr Batchelor. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Ross and Wilkinson, and leave of absence granted to, Mr Jas. Eazlett. riNANCB COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee's report, which was as follows, was adopted : " The Finance Committee met and examined the various accounts for the month of March, amounting to charitable aid distribution £93 18s lid, charitable aid accounts £4.0 10s 3d, Maternity Hospital £68 10s lOd, and recommended the same be pa6sed for payment. The receipts for the month of March amount to £703 7s lid, and the bank book shows a credit balance of £431 12s lOd at 15th April. MATEHNITY HOSPITAL. The Maternity Hospital Committee reported as follows: "The painting and kalsomining of the interior of the institution authorised by the board at its last meeting is now completed, with marked improve^ ment m 'Jhe appearance of fche wards and passages. Your committee found it necessary to paint the doors and windows, which /r-ere not included m the estimate at a cost of £11. The Hon. Mr Fowlds visited the Hospital with the chairman and several members of the board, and expressed "aimsel-f highly pleased with the institution. Your board can now claim to possess the model maternity hospital m the Dominion. As there ie an ample balance m hand, a covered passage way between the isolation ward and the main block would prove a useful addition, and as this could be carried out at a cost of £10 we advise that it be put m hand." — The report was adopted. OBPHASTAGES. The committee that had waited upon Mr Fowlds regarding St. Mary's Orphanage reported at follows : : ' Mr Fowlds impressed upon the committee that the Government had determinedly set its face against gazetting any additional schools under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act from any denomination whatever. He informed the board, however, that, m his opinion, under section 70 of the act this board had already sufficient powers to assist m the maintenance of orphanages or similar institutions doing charitable work."— ln * connection with this report, the Presbyterian Association applied for financial assistance towards the two orphanages m Clyde street, supported by the. Presbyterians. There were 30 inmates. In a brief discussion that followed Mr Mosley moved the motion meeting with the support of the board— "That this board grant the saino assistance to Presbyterian and Anglican orphanages at the same rate paid to the St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage at South Dunedin upon the assurance of the board's solicitors that this can be done legally, and that a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs if. Mi"er, Walker, Andereon, and Will inquire into the whole matter and report. — Tht motion was carried. CONSUMPTIVE SANATGBIUM. _ The same committee had interviewed Mr Fowlds concerning a consumptive sanatorium, and reported as follows-.— "The Minister held out no hope whatever of the Government establishing a. sanatorium m the South Island, and informed them that our board was the only one m the Dominion that has already made special provision for the treatment of consumptives. The present arrangement at the Rock and Pillar is neither satisfactory nor economical, and we recommend that the sub-committee appointed for dealing with this subject make further inquiries into the matter and report to the board at its next meeting."— The Chairman said they wanted to pick out one or two sites, and bring them under the notice of the board. Ifc would be for the committee to decide on theee sites, and have estimates as to the cost for next meeting. They had m view a site at Sutton, one at Logan's Point, and another at Palmerston. —The report was adopted, the whole matter being referred to a committee of the shole board for reoort. THE MANIOTOTO DISTBICT. £he Inspector-general, Wellington, wrote, m connection with the separation of the Maniototo district from the united districts for the purpose of charitable aid, that " The Maniototo Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, 1907," under which the Maniototo charitable aid district was constituted, was a local measure, introduced by Mr Macpherson, and though the department was against the formation of small districts, it did not see its way actively to oppose the measure. — Received. CHABITABLE AID IN VINCENT COUNTY. The Vincent County Council wrote as follows; — "Your lattere referring to the

distribution bf aid through the local authorities were brought before this counoil at its meeting on the 25th ult., and after careful consideration it resolved— ' That this council is ' quite satisfied with the present method of giving relief, through the trustees of the Otago Benevolent Institution as hitherto, or by your board, therefore do not ese any necessity for suggested alteration, and decline the responsibility of same..' With reference to the quarterly list of those m receipt of aid, this council would advise that the whole of the Chinese m this county be. struck off the list, the council having _ reliable information that the sums received by them, m most instances, are being improperly used. Should renewed or fresh application be received by the council on their behalf, this council will recommend that every applicant be received into the Benevolent Institution, and, failing to accept this, aid be withheld ; the other names on the list are m order, and, m this council's opinion, should be renewed." A telegram of a later date from the County Council read :—-" Considerable distress among Chinese owing to stoppage of supplies. County chairman suggests that, you instruct storekeepers to continue supplies to end of May." — Mr Knight expressed the opinion that the chairman had not been • right in' instructing a complete stoppage. — Mr Clark thought he had not .the power tp do it^-The Chairman: Who is going to take the power? We had no co-DTtiifctee, and someone has got to acr. If we don't take the local bodies' advice we are going back to the old system. — i Mr Knight said it was the sudden stoppage that he disagreed with. — The Clerk to the County Council read a letter he had. received from the chairman of the council, and the Chairman oi th_ board* then said : Then it is the wish of the Vincent County Council to get rid of these Chinese and hand them on to the Benevolent Institution.— The County Clerk: That Ss so. — Mr Mosley said there -Were Chineee m Bruce County, and when the Benevolent Institution Trustes had been asked to increase the relief from 3s to 4s, they had! declined on the score of economy, and* took the Chinamen into the institution at a cost of 6s 6d a week. Therefore, ithey could get over the difficulty by keeping these Chinamen where they were they ! should not burden the country with their keep m the institution.— lt was resolved that supplies be continued, as reoommended m the telegram. - until May 31, and that the Finance Committee repovt* on the whole matter. FBOFOS^D CONFERENCE. The Secretary of the Benevolent Institution wrote that the trustees suggested a. oonfer-snee with various bodies under their jurisdiction interested m the administration of charitable aid, and to consider the provisions of the proposal Hospital and l Charitable Institutions Aot. * Mr Clark said he did not see what use a conference would be, and believed the Hospital Trustees and the Benevolent Institution Trustees should be ' wiped out. He submitted" a motion to that effect, that the board be not represented at the conference! as no good would come from it. Mr Mill seconded the motion, remarking that the present system of distributing charitable aid was unwieldly and so Confusing that none of the bodies knew where they were. He intended moving subsequently m the direction of suggesting that' the board request the Government to do away with -at least two., of the boards, an present m existence. , Dr Batchelor and Mr Anderson supported the proposal for a conference. The resolution adverse to meeting m conference was carried. The following requisitions for maintenance were referred to the Finanoe Committee: — Benevolent Institution \ (Caversham), £4600 and £400; Caversham Industrial . Sohool, £700 to £800; Weraroa School, £130; Receiving Home, £16 18s.