Charitable Aid Board.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11734, 11 September 1902, Page 2

Charitable Aid Board.

•The ordinary mout-hly.meetingl of the I'atea-Wanganui Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. W. Ritchie, E. E. Fletcher, J. Richardson, J. E. Wilson, T. x>. Wliliams, H. Hole, K. E« Beeokett, J. Duncan, Beamish, and Mrs. Williamson. Apologies were received from Mr. Van Ash and Colonel Gorton, the latter expressing, in a letter to the Board, his deep sense of the loss sustained by the Board in the death, of Mr. James Laird. Chairman.—The secretary announced - that in consequence of the lamented death since last meeting of the Board's chairman, Mr. James Laird£ it would be necessary to elect someone to && the chair. Mr. E. E. Fletcher moved that Mr. Ritchie be elected to fill the vacancy, Mr. Ritchie had as imuch, or more, experience as most of the members, and he (Mr. Fletcher) felt fully convinceed that Mr. Ritchie was best qualified to take th© office. Mr. H. Hole seconded the motion.—Mils. Williamson said she rose to oppose the nomination, for reasons which she considered were obvious to all of them, but which she felt she need not enter into. She did not think Mr Ritchie was the best chairman they could have. Ajpart from that, while he was chairman last year Mr. Ritchie has certainly kept back correspondence from Dr. MacGregor, which was intended for the Board. It waa very unpleasant to have to speak in this way, but she felt it to be her duty to oppose the nomination. Another press-ing-point, tor her mind, was that the chairmap Should' be residenjt ia town, and she would propose that as they were nearing the annual elections, the mattei of the chairmanship be left over and that Mr. Williams^ be appointed acting-chair-man for the remainder of the current term.—Mr. Beckett said that whoever was elected could only hold office for two months, and he did wot think they could do anything wiser that elect Mr. Ritchie, who had hadi iprevious experience.—The motion was put and carried, Mrs. Williamson voting against it.- I—Mr. Ritchie, on taking the chair, thanked the members for the honour they had conferred upon him. He Avas awfully sorry that they had to resort to such a step, on account of the very great respect which he held for their late chairman, Mr. James Laird. It would be hard to fill his place on the Board, for he had done so much, had taken such a great interest in the affairs' of the Boards, and had, latterly especially, devoted practically the whole of his time to the work of the Boards. They were all extremely sorry for his decease. The Board would no doubt place on record its official recognition of regret and appreciation.—Mr. Beeckett moved, "That this Board desires to place oni record its profound regret at the death of its late chairman, Mr. James Laird, its appreciation of his valuable services to the Board and to the town off Wanganui generally, and desires to tender to Mrs. Laird and family its deep sympathy in their irreparable loss." The motion was seoanded by the chairman and was carried unanimously. Amendment of Actfe.—Several' letters were read from different Charitable Aid institutions with reference to the proposed legislation respecting the Registration of Births and Deaths Act and1 the Destitute Persons Act. The Southland and Whangarei Boards supported the Wanga.nui Board's efforts, and the Otago and Auckland Boards regretted they could not support it. The letter from Auckland j stated the Board thought that! if the proposed amendments were carried into law, they would iplace most dangerous power in the hands of a Magistrate, andi would enable him, however unintentionally, to brand an entirely innocent man with infamy. After practical experience for the past 16 years, their inspecting officer reported that the character of the women most affected by these Acts was such that not one word they said .could be believed, and therefore tneir ■testimony in a Court would be utterly unreliable. McDonoM's Pension.—Mr. H. EyrfeKenny, S.M., wrote to the effect that he had forwarded the Board's communications re the case of Donald McDonald's pension to the Registrar of Old Age Pensions at Wellington. The latter had replied that the decision of the Stipendiary Magistrate in cases1 of this kind could not be questioned by the Department. —Mr. Fletcher suggested that the Board should again communicate with the Magistrate, but, after discussion* it was thought that it would be better it McDonald again applied for the pension. Jubilee Home. —The secretary read the following report on the Jubilee Home by the Assistant-Inspector of Hospitals: The Home was visited on the 3rd of August and 20th of June. On the latter date there were 27 men and 2 women inmates. Some of the members of the Board give careful supervision ta this institution. A wardSsman has been engaged to help the matron. The food and clothing were satisfactory, and the dormitories and' rooms in ,good order. Accounts. I—Accounts1—Accounts to the amount of £245 9s. were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.