H.—22a

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ment. That would enable the Board to secure the advice of the Inspector-General. He begged to move accordingly. Mr. Scantlebury (Westland) seconded the amendment. Mr. Logan said he would support Mr. Luke's motion that the Government be represented on the Board if the number was limited to one representative on each Board. The Hon. Mr. C. M. Luke (AVellington) thought that, considering the large amount of subsidycontributed by the Government towards charitable aid, they should have direct representation on the Board. He might point out that the Government had representation on Harbour Boards, to whose funds they did not contribute anything. He would support Mr. Kirk's amendment. Mr. Lyle (Westland) said his experience had been that the Government-nominee system had not been satisfactory. Mr. Knight (Auckland) said he could indorse the statement that the Government did not always make wise appointments. While he very much respected the Inspector-General, he would very much object to his attending all the meetings of the Board. He did not approve of dual control, and he was strongly opposed to the Government appointing the matrons of hospitals. That power should remain in the hands of the Board. Mr. F. T. Moore (AVellington) said he would support Mr. Luke's motion. He thought the Government should be allowed two representatives on the Board. He was opposed to the Minister having the power of veto. He had seen too many instances where that power had been exercised disastrously. Let them give the Government the right to appoint two members to the Board; but they should resolutely oppose the proposal to give the Government the power of veto of administrative acts of the Board. Mr. Power (Waihi) said his Board had recently benefited by taking the advice of the In-spector-General in regard to two appointments. He thought that if the Government had one representative on each Board they would be amply represented. Mr. Ritchie (Wanganui) said he was opposed to the Government having a nominee on the Board at all, and he was of opinion that the Board should make the apointment of the medical superintendent and matron. Mr. O'Brien (Mercury Bay) said his observation and experience had shown the wisdom of consulting the Inspector-General when Boards were making appointments to the position of resi- ' dent surgeon or matron. When he left Mercury Bay he did not think he was coming to attend a Conference of men who would propose a vote of no-confidence in themselves; but that was exactly what they were doing—or what some gentlemen were doing—in trying to get a Government nominee on the Board. Mr. Norris (Christchurch) wished to say that he was not in favour of having a Government nominee on the Board. He heartily approved of the suggestion thrown out by Mr. Wilson that the Inspector-General should be ex officio a member of every Board; but as that did not seem to be approved of, it was useless dilating upon the subject. He wanted to point this out: that even if the Government had no nominee on the Board, it was keeping a good whip in its hand in connection with the subsidies, because under another provision in. the measure the Minister was empowered to withhold the payment of the whole or any part of any subsidy to the Board. Mr. Carson (Wanganui) said he had no objection to the proposal that the Inspector-General should be a member of all the Boards. If, however, the Conference approved of the principle that because the Government supplied a subsidy therefore they must be represented, and if they expressed their approval by passing a resolution, it would tend to cause that principle to run through all our administration. The great question was the power of veto sought to be possessed by the Government. Would the Conference have a resolution dealing with the power of veto? Mr. J. G. W x ilson said he was willing to put before the resolution the words " in lieu of the power of veto which is contained in the Bill." Mr. Carson (AVanganui) thought Boards should take advantage of all the advice and knowledge they could get to assist them in coming to the best decisions; but he did not think they should give away their powers, as would be the case if the power of veto was given. Mr. Loudon (Dunedin) said he would oppose Mr. AVilson's motion, because he thought it would be injudicious for the Inspector-General to occupy a seat on the Board. With the other powers given him in the Bill it was absolutely unnecessary for the Inspector-General to have a seat on the Board as an ordinary member. V£ith regard to Government representation on the Board, he did not greatly object to that; but, as far as they could gather from the Bill, the Government did not seek it. AVhy put two Government nominees on the Board if the Government did not seek it? It was not the Government that found the money: it was the people of the Dominion. In the case of Harbour Boards, the Government did not contribute to the funds of those Boards, yet they had nominees on the Boards. He did not think they need take the money question into account at all in considering this question of representation. If in the opinion of the Government the Board did not discharge its duties properly, the Minister had the power to withhold the subsidy. Unless the Government wished to have representation on the Boards, he did not think the Conference should make any representation on the subject. He hoped Mr. Wilson's motion would be lost, because he thought it would place the Inspector-General in a wrong position—one that would not be satisfactory to himself or to the members of the Board. Mr. J. G. Wilson asked leave to withdraw his motion in favour of that moved by Mr. Kirk. Leave given, and motion withdrawn. Mr. Kirk's resolution was carried in the following form: "That in lieu of the provision giving the Minister the power of veto in regard to appointments, the following provision be made : That no appointment of a medical officer or matron shall be made until the expiration of twentyone days after the Minister has been notified of the intention to make such appointment." The resolution was carried by 50 votes to 14.