“TOO MANY APPEALS.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 7

“TOO MANY APPEALS.”

HARBOUR BOARD DECISION GRANT TO PLUNKET SOCIETY. There was a brisk discussion at today’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Hoard in connection with a letter from the president of the Lyttelton branch of the Now Zealand Royal Society for the Health of Women and Children asking for a grant towards the society’s funds. It was reported that the application came before the board in October but was held over to the end of the financial year because the unauthorised expenditure credit was exhausted. The law now allowed an unauthorised expenditure of £SOO instead of £250. so that funds were now available. Mr F. Horrell moved that the ap plication should be held oven until the new financial year. He said the fund should be assisted by individual sub scriptions and that the board should not be looked upon as a! kind of glorified charitable aid board. The object was no doubt a worthy one. but there were too many appeals of this kind. Mr R. Macartney said the matter certainly concerned tho Harbour Hoard, and he moved that the application should be granted. Mr W. K. Macdonald said the board could go into the whole matter later. The board should be careful as to how it gave away other people’s money. The Hon R. Moore. M.L.C.. said that the board should give a small sum. sav. £lO. to the society, which was a deserving institution. Mr Macartney said the amount should be £25. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker seconded Mr Ma cartney’s motion. The board, he said, was one of the richest bodies in New Zealand, and it should help tho people of Lyttelton. especially the wives and children of seamen. Captain H. Monro said £25 was too much. He moved an amendment that £lO should be granted. Mr Horrell seconded the amendment. Mr W. J. Walter said he opposed the motion. 'Flic board should “go steady.” Dr Thacker said tho protection of the wives and children of the board’s workmen was the business of the board, and he urged that tho full grant should be made. After further discussion the board passed a motion making a grant of £ls to the society’s funds. It was agreed that the whole question of grants should be gone into next year.