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Mr. J. G. Wilson (Palmerston) was quite satisfied with the Chairman's explanation, and he therefore moved, " That the present basis of apportionment and representation be adopted." Mr. Quin (Hawera) seconded the motion. Motion agreed to. Continuity of Office of Boards. The Chairman thought the Conference would be unanimous in arriving at the conclusion that the present system of election for only one year was unsatisfactory, and he hoped the Conference would agree that both as regards members of Boards and Chairmen there should be continuity of office to the extent of three years. Mr. Marx (Hawera) moved, " That the period of office be extended to three years." This was seconded by Mr. J. G. Wilson (Palmerston North), who thought it would be better that a certain number of members should retire each year-. This would give continuity of knowledge and experience and at the same time provide new blood. A Delegate asked how this would work in cases where a district was represented by only one man on a Board. The Chairman thought that could be arranged. Mr. Cooper (Christchurch) was opposed to the election of the Chairman for three years. At the end of one year it might be more satisfactory to have a new Chairman. Mr. O'Brien (Mercury Bay) was in. favour of the annual election of Chairman. The Chairman pointed out that the resolution if carried did not necessarily-affect the Chairman. Mr. Marx (Hawera) by leave substituted for his previous motion the following: "That continuity of office be secured by the election of one-third of the members each year, those to retire to be decided by ballot, thus giving three years maximum of office." Mr. Norris (North Canterbury) pointed out that this would necessitate the holding of an election every year. Mr. W t alker (Otago) moved, " That members of Boards be elected every three years." Mr. Stevens (Dunedin) seconded the motion. Mr. Logan (Maniototo) said the mode of election was merely a matter of detail. All the Conference was called upon to do, he held, was to affirm, the principle of continuity of office. He moved as an amendment, " That the principle of continuity of office be affirmed." The amendment was duly seconded. Mr. Loudon said, if it were decided that a certain number of members should retire annually, it was desirable that the question of who were to retire at the end of the first and second years should be decided by ballot. After that he thought those who had been longest in office should retire in rotation. Mr. Logan's amendment, " That the principle of continuity of office be affirmed," was put to the Conference and agreed to. Mr. Bolton (Wellington) rose to a point of order. He objected to Mr. Logan's amendment being put when there was a prior amendment before the Conference. The Chairman said the opinion of the Conference had been arrived at, though possibly by an indirect route. Abolition of Separate Institutions. Mr. Scantlebury (Reefton) moved, " That this Conference protests against the combined districts as set out in the Bill under discussion, and that the separate institutions be allowed to continue in operation." Mr. Webb (Northern Wairoa) moved, " That the system of separate institutions as at present in force be approved and continued." He believed the opinion expressed by Sir Julius Vogel many years ago, that the establishment of these institutions would encourage people to provide hospitals and would tend to relieve the rates, had been amply justified by the results. In the Northern Wairoa, for instance, they had a hospital with fourteen beds, which in the five years of its existence had put through between five and six hundred patients, who had been treated, in the great majority of cases, with marked success. Should such a hospital as that be abolished? It had not been entirely self-supporting. They had to come on the rates for a moderate amount, but the amount was being gradually reduced :it had fallen in the last three years from £365 to about £200. If the Board had to take over this institution it would be at considerable cost. And he would point out that the Boards were represented on the management of these separate institutions according to law. In the case of the Wairoa Hospital the North of Auckland Board elected three members, who sat regularly with the Trustees with most satisfactory results. It would be a great mistake to endeavour to wipe out these separate institutions. .Mr. Cooper (Christchurch), in seconding the motion of the last speaker, desired to speak on behalf of the Samaritan Home in Christchurch which had been founded by a number of people in Christchurch. Those ladies and gentlemen had contributed liberally towards the institution, and of course they had the Government subsidy. The Home was open for a class of cases which few institutions in the Dominion would take. In it was a sort of link between charitable aid and the gaol. It was held by the Stipendiary Magistrate and other authorities that such institutions should not be closed. In keeping outcast women off the streets they saved many a youth from possible contamination. It was one of the very few institutions which provided for those maternity cases where a woman had fallen more than once. The Christchurch City Council and the Selwyn and Ashburton County Councils were represented on the management of that institution. Mr. Fraser (Oamaru) did not at all approve of the Chairman's somewhat sweeping condemnation of these separate institutions, and he hoped the Conference would see its way to recommend