HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9114, 13 June 1908, Page 7

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

INTERIM REPORT BY CONFERENCE DELEGATES. ' The delegates to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Conference will submit lo their respective Boards an interim report as follows: — The Conference, which was held in the Sydney street Schoolroom, Wellington, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 9lh, 10th and 11th, i was presided over by the InspectorGeneral, Dr. Valintine, and attended by delegates from all parts of the Dominion. The principles embodied in the new Bill were thoroughly debated, and the remits tor the various Boards fully considered. The retult of the deliberations of the Conference will be printed and circulated amongst the Boards in the cour.se of a few days. Briefly summarised the most important decisions were:—That hospital and charitable aid matters should be administered by one Board. That the Boards he elected as st present—that id to say by the local bodies providing the .funds. That the basis of representation continue on the present system. That the term of office be three years with annual retirements of one-third < f the members?. That separate instiiulions be continued with a proviso for the consent of the local bodies contributing to the funds. The proposal in the Bill to make the minimum subscription one pound was rejected and five shillings subscriptions retained. The proposal t) reduce the subsidies as provided ii the bill was presented for discussion in the form of a proposal tj abolish subsidies on outdoor relief. The conference decided unanimously in favour of continuance of present subsidies. The proposal to give Government for Departmental control in the appointment of medical officers and matrons was reje:ted. The Wairnrapa delegates' report etates as follows:- No. opportunity of discussing the area of the district at the Conference was allowed your delegates, who objected strong- • ly and vigorously to the Wairarapa being included in the. Wellington District. An appoint nent was marie for the Wellington and Wairarapa delegates tj meet Dr. Valintine on Thursday morning before the Conference resumed its sitting, and your delegates placed t'.ie vtews ot thj people of the Wairarapa before tha Inspector-General, who stated that he wouid bring the claims and objections before the Minivers, and notify win.t is the outcome. . Yc ur del gi.tes pointed out that the Wa'rarapa lud been striving far lelief, ami w.iiti g patio: tl> for years for the severance of Wairarapa from Wellington in the matter of charitable aid, and fie proposal now t-j include hosp t.r!s elso would be energetically opp'sad, and if necessary at every stage of tin Bi'.l in the House. The only suggestion of a compiomi?e was that Wellington should be compensated for the loss of such a valua! "le milch cow .as the Wanarapa by a money payrrm t. The of the matter demands prompt and decisive action. ' and jour delegates ha\e recoir.m;r.d d the District Hospital Board to cci - vc-ne a meeting as early as posnele of all the chairmen of local bedns, hospitals and seiarate institutions including your delegates, and invit3 the members of Pjrliament for th; Wairarapa, Pahiatun and , Masts; o i electorates to attend for the purjKsa of forming a deputation to wait upon the Minister with a view t.) securing that the Wainrapa be made a separate district under the Act.