CHARITABLE AID BOARD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5769, 13 January 1897, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD

\ ith- ordinary meeting of the Ashburtoa !and North Canterbury Charitable Aid , Bbarft Was held this afternoon ; present — Messrs R, Westenra (chairman), J. T. Smith, Jl Hamilton, J. Eem_ie. W. Dunlop, W. Prudlioe, B. Manhire, P. J, Board, A. Chalmers,. B*. Wallace and C.. J. Harper, An apology for absence was received from Mr W. Boag. chairman's statement. The Chairman's statement was as follows : ' — " The Board owns a small property in the' Courtenay district, subject to a life interest, andit is necessary thatthe dividing fences should be repaired. I have procured an opinion as to what is required, and, seeing that the occupier is dependent on the small annuity granted by the Board, and consequently cannot afford to incur expense himself, I think the Board should .authorise, the necessary repairs to be .effected. I considered it advisable to arrange for disposing of another Ismail property, the late occupier of which is an inmate of*' cm. of the Board's institutions, and therefore I shall ask the Board to approve my action in this matter. There is a letter from the Taranaki Board relating to the source of revenue. Whatever may be the opinion of members of this Board, I would ask them to bear in mind that we are not a legislative, but purely an administrative body, to carry out the law as it is laid down. A letter i's also to hand . from a lady in South Canterbury respecting a somewhat peculiar case. I would remind the Board that we have no institution here which is designed for the reception of such cases, which, in my opinion, should be. treated in an asylum for incurables; and I must suggest that the attention of the Government be directed to the expediency of providing some such Home, not merely for local cases, but open to the Colony. Tliere are many unfortunate persons who are fit subjects for neither hospital, home for aged, nor hinatic asylum, but require special treatment in a national infirmary. I may mention that this Board is already maintaining more than one destitute person, whose cost, in equity if not in law, shoidd be chargeable to the South Canterbury district." It was decided to give authority to have the repairs mentioned by the Chairman, effected. The Taranaki Board's letter was read. That Board was of opinion that the money required for charitable purposes should be a charge on the consolidated fund of the colony. After some discussion it was resolved to reply, that this Board considered the matter one rather for the ratepayers than for the administrative bodies. A letter was read from a South Canterbury lady asking if the Board could take into the Lyttelton Orphanage or the Jubilee Home a half-witted girl who was at present being boarded in Christchurch. A medical man had been treating her since last May and had pronounced her incurable. The chairman pointed out that this Board had no institution for cases of this sort. He thought that should be made to the Government with a viw to having some provision made for such cases. (Left sitting.)