United Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5579, 29 March 1886, Page 3

United Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

THIS DAT, LEGALITY OP THE MEETING | QUESTIONED. A special meeting of the North Canterbury United Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held this morning, at th« Industrial Association's rooms ; present — Mr White (in the chair) and Messrs Vincent, White, Jones, Ivory, Forrester, Toomer and Bromley. Mr Forrester rose to a point of order. He asked if the meeting had been called in accordance with Clause 8 of the Standing Orders. The Chairman believed that it had been. It was necessary that the meeting should be held for the purpose of taking steps in connection with finance, in accordance with the Act. Certain business must b« done before the last day of March. Mr Forrester objected to anything being done in the case of dismissing the Master and Matron of the Orphanage. A large number of the members had to come from a great distance, and probably had not received notice. (At this stage his Worship the Mayor and Mr Joyce entered the room). The Chairman thought that the proper time for Mr Forrester to object would be when the Orphanage business came up. Seeing that the meeting was so small, he himself would be inclined to postpone all business except what must absolutely be done according to the Act. Mr Forrester was afraid that if he did not object to any business being done, his objection to a particular business might be j overruled. He had no objection to necessary business being transacted. Mr White thought the Board mußt be rery careful. If the meeting was informal it should be decided at once, and no business be done. The Chairman ruled that the meeting was formal. He did not feel competent to give a legal opinion, but, aB far his judgment went, he thought the meeting formal. Mr Forrester 6aid his notice was dated March 26, and he had not the four days' notice. He did not speak for himself, but fo* the country members. Mr White pointed out that the Standing Order required that the notice should be posted four days before the meeting. Mr Forrester contended that it had not been posted four clear days before the meeting. The Chairman would take the opinion of the Board. Mr Vincent said the difficulty the Board was in had been referred to the Government. Mr Toomer asked that the letter from the Government might be read. The Chairman said the difficulty referred to the Government was not as to the present meeting, but as to the possibility of postponing the estimates for the maintenance of the Hospital and Charitable Aid. The letter from the Government was read. It suggested that the Board should do the beet they could, and trust to getting an indemnity afterwards. The Chairman did not ccc how the necessary financial business could be postponed. All other business might be held over. Mr Jones thought this the proper time for raising the question as to the reading of clave 21 of the Act. Tho last part of the sentence did not make it imperative that the allocation of the estimates should be made before March 31. If this reading was admitted, the difficulty could be got over. Mr White did not agree with Mr Jones. The Board had to decide what money was required, and it stood to reason that the Board should at the same time allocate the proportion of the contribution. Probably it would be well to have a legal opinion as

to the reading of the Standing Order. The difficulty could be got over by a unanimous vote to suspend the Standing Orders. The Chairman read the twenty-ninth rule, providing for the suspension ef the Standing Orders. Mr Jonea thought that the opinion of the Board's legal adviser should be taken. An informality in the most serious business of the Board would be fatal. The Board was in a perfect muddle, and should have suffioient time to consider the financial position. He proposed that the legal opinion should be as to the formality of the meeting, and also as to whether it was compulsory on the Board to allocate the contributions when the Board had no data to go upon. Mr Forrester was prepared to waive his objection to the meeting bo far as financial businss was concerned. Mr White submitted that the meeting was either formal or informal. Mr Toomer thought the Act must override the Standing orders, and the Act Baid ! certain things mußt be done before the end of Maroh. Mr Bromley asked the Chairman to rule one way or the other. Mr White contended that the Chairman's decision was final. ! The Chairman did not consider it his place to give a legal opinion. He had already ruled the meeting to be formal, but had suggested that a legal opinion should be taken. Mr Jones moved — "That the meeting adjourn, in order that a legal opinion should be taken, till 1.80 p.m." Mr White seconded this and it was agreed to. At 1.30 p.m. the Board resumed, the came members being present. The Chairman reported as to the legality of the meeting, and the Secretary read Mr Holmes' opinion, to the effect that the meeting was formal, but recommended a more extended notice being given. Mr Holmes was further of opinion that it was not compulsory on the Board to allocate the contributions before the end of March. Mr Jones thought it very important that the Board should take more time. The Chairman suggested that the correspondence, which was only formal, should be read. Letters were read from Mr Beetham. regretting that he could not be present ; and from Mr John Orr, resigning his seat at the Board. The resignation was accepted. A letter from Mr John C. Sopp was read, referring to a letter which had been quoted by Mr. Bitchey in Saturday's Press, and expressing regret that such "low tricks" should have been thought necessary. The consideration of this letter was postponed. The report of the Committee of the Old Men's Home re the new wing was read, and its consideration was postponed. The Secretary read the solicitor's opinion on questions submitted by the Finance Committee. The opinion was to the effect that the word " may " in parts 1 and 2 of Section 22 of the Act was discretionary, but in part 8 was mandatory. Section 23 controlled part 8 of Section 22. The Chairman said he had received a telegram from Mr W. C. Walker, regretting that he could not attend, and suggesting that if the other country members could not attend the meeting should adjourn till Wednesday. ! FINANCI. The report of the Finance Committee was read. Mr Jones moved—" That the estimates »b presented of receipts and expenditure be received and adopted by the Board." He regretted that the Committee had been ■o pushed for time, but believed that the figures might subsequently be varied. Mr Ivory pointed out that the estimates were on the old valuations. The Chairman assured Mr Ivory that the late valuations were not yet available. The estimates could be revised. The Secretary had telegraphed for the latest information on Saturday, and had received it from Government, as far as it could be obtained. Mr Jones explained that his motion only •ffected the totalß and notthe details of the estimates. It did not affect the allocation. Mr Vincent seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Mr Joneß, seeing that so small a number of members was present, moved— "That the further consideration of the allocation be postponed." It would be well to adjourn till after the recent valuations are available. Mr Forrester seconded the adjournment. Mr White opposed the resolution, as it seemed to him to have for its object the renewal of the old dispute as to the principle of allocation. If Mr Jones would Bay that it was simply to see what the correct amounts would be, he (Mr White) would consent to the adjournment, but would not consent to the country members swamping the Board. At the same time he thought that the legal opinion was incorrect as to its not being necessary to allocate the contributions at once. The meeting had been properly and fairly called, and it was the duty of the members to be present. Mr Vincent was inclined to think that Mr White was right. Mr White suggested that the Board should adjourn to an earlier date, and meantime see Mr Holmes again. He thought the Board should meet to-morrow night. The Chairman thought the safest way would be to make the allocation at once. If any districts felt aggrieved they could objeat. Mr Joneß pointed out that gross injustice might be done by dealing with the question in a Board consisting almost wholly of the representatives of the city and boroughs. He was the only representative of the country districts, and felt he should not be doing his duty if he did not urge the Board to adjourn as he had proposed. The resolution was put and lost. DKPUTATI«V. At this stage Mr Moore took his seat, and Messrs Joyce and Ayers (Mayor of Christchurch) presented the requisition agreed to at the meeting of Saturday last, calling upon th« Board to resign. His Worship asked that the requisition might be returned to him, as he wished additional signatures to be attached to it. Mr Vincent, would object to the requisition being returned. The Chairman thought it very unusual to ask for a requisition to be returned in order to be strengthened with additional signatures. His Worship said that he had, to save time, brought the requisition, but really all he had to do was to present the resolution agreed to at the meeting. The Chairman thought the requisition was hardly worded in such a respectful tone as a requisition to a public body ought to be. His Worship was not responsible for the wording, and did not think that he should sit in judgment on those who drafted the requisition. As long as there was nothing offensive in it, that was all that he need look to. The Chairman could not receive the requisition and then return it. If his Worship liked he could take it away. His Worship would leave the requisition with the Board. Mr Joyce was not responsible for the wording, but would ask the Board to allow the Orphanage matters to remain in abeyance for a month. Mr White asked if there was any provision for the appointment of successors to the Board should tho members resign ? The Chairman pointed out that only two members represented Christchurch, yet the meeting of a small section of citizens had asked the whole Board to resign. His Worship had presided at the meeting, as he had been asked to, but was not responsible for what had been done. The Chairman suggested that it might have been in tho province of the Mayor to prevent, if possible, the meeting f rouj stultifying itself. His Worship did not think that this was his duty. The idea had not occurred to him. Mr Joyco explained that the requisition had been passed after ho had loft the meeting, as he had to go away by train. '

Mr Joneß pointed out, in reply to Mr White, that a regulation gazetted on March 26, provided that vacancies in the Board could be filled by election by the bodies represented. Mr Moore moved,—" That the requisition be received." Mr Vincent asked that the requisition might be read. The Secretary read it, as also the names attached to it. Mr Bromley seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. The Chairman informed the deputation that there was some financial business to be disposed of, when no doubt the requisition would be dealt with. Mr Vincent moved— "That the.allocation be approved of." Mr Bromley seconded this. Mr Jones would like the Board to see what they were doing, and to take the full responsibility of their action. The effect of carrying the resolution would be to inflict a great injustice upon some districts. As compared with Bangiora and Kaiapoi, the Ashley County paid 2s ljd per head, while Bangiora paid B£d, and Kaiapoi 6|d. Coming nearer home, on what principle could Linwood, Heathcote, &c, be called upon to pay 21d per head and Sydenham only 7d? There was a similar injustice with regard to Christchurch. Mr Vincent said Mr Jones was careful to say nothing about the difference in the subsidy paid to the country and to the towns. Mr Jones was quite prepared to go into that subject. Had he had the opportunity he would have moved that there should be a division into districts. But he was powerless to prevent what he considered unfair and unjust. [After the transaction of tome routine business, the Orphanage question was brought forward. The Orphanage Committee desired that the Master should be asked to leave at once, receiving salary in lieu of notice up to May 10. Mr Bitchey had desired to remain until the expiration of the notice. The vote on the resolution for Mr Bitchey to leave at once, was as follows : — Ayes : — Messrs Bromley, Ivory, Vincent and White. Noeß : — Messrs Forrester, Jones, Toomer and Moore. The Chairman gave his casting vote with he ayes.}