H.— 22a

34

The Chairman wished to call particular attention to remit No. 4 of the above—that from the Ashburton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. It was a suggestion propounded by Mr. Norris, the Secretary of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, and he would like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Norris for the very great assistance he had rendered the Department in regard to charitable-aid matters. Mr. Norris's experience of charitable-aid administration extended over a long period of years, and the above remit was based on that experience. He hoped it would be adopted by the"Conference as it stood. Mr. Kirk (AVellington) said, for the purposes of recovery the suggestion of the Wellington Trustees was that submitted in the supplementary agenda paper, as follows : " Clause 74, line 15 : After ' resided ' leave out words ' for at least six months.' Line 18 : Add after ' resided ' the words ' for the longest consecutive period.' " Remit from the Ashburton and North Canterbury Board agreed to. Remit from the Wellington District Hospital Board: "That this Board considers provision should be made in the new Bill whereby Harbour Boards should be placed as a medium for purpose of liability for the cost of all accidents occurring about shipping." The Chairman understood the shipping authorities in Wellington paid maintenance fees for the patients. The Hon. Mr. C. M. Luke said they paid up to the time of discharge. It was difficult after discharge to make a collection from a shipping company. Mr. J. P. Luke said there was a difference of opinion on his Board on this matter, and he now asked that the remit be deleted. Remit struck out. Incorporation of Separate Institutions. Remit from the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board: "That when a separate institution is to be established, the promoters shall once a week for four weeks advertise in some local paper their intention of making application to the Minister for the purpose. Agreed to. Remit from the Wairarapa District Hospital Board: "Clause 51: The committee is of opinion that no separate institution should be incorporated without the sanction of the Board of the district in which the proposed institution will be situated." Agreed to. Remit from the Oamaru Hospital Trustees : " Section 51 : Subsection (1) to be altered to read, ' any institution that is not or is not intended to be maintained wholly or in part out of the funds of any Board, but is or is intended to be maintained wholly or in part by the voluntary contributions from the public, who have signified their intention to contribute thereto (in sums of not less than five shillings) a yearly amount of not less than one hundred pounds, and who have paid one year's subscription in advance, or a donation of not less than twenty pounds, may be incorporated as hereinafter mentioned as a separate institution under the Act.' " Negatived. Voting-powers. Remit from the Coromandel Hospital Trustees: "Clause 56, subclause (3): That 'three months ' be substituted for ' one month.' " Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Logan (Maniototo) the following remits were struck out as being matters of policy and beyond the scope of the Conference:— " Ashburton and North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. —Some provision should be inserted in the Bill for setting apart Crown lands as endowments for the purposes of the Act." " Westland Hospital and. Charitable Aid Board and, Westland, Hospital Trustees. —That it be a general recommendation to the Government to set aside as special endowments for hospitals and charitable-aid purposes portions of the Crown lands of the Dominion." The Chairman said there were in different parts of the Dominion little hospital reserves from which the hospital districts were drawing no revenue. They were mostly in localities where it was unlikely any hospital would be erected, and he was endeavouring: to get those hospital reserves or the revenue accruing therefrom transferred to the Hospital Boards of the district. Expenditure. Remit from the Stratford District Hospital Board: "That the words 'Expenditure up to £100 be exempt' be added to the last words in clause 21." Mr. Liardet (Stratford) hoped this would be agreed to. Tt would be absurd to refer to the Minister every little alteration which might cost a few pounds. The Hon. Mr. C. M. Luke (Wellington) did not think £100 was sufficient in the case of the larger institutions. Mr. Talboys (Otago) said they had recently in Dunedin gone to the expense of £300 or £400 in the erection of a room for incurables, and if they had to go through the form of getting the approval of the Minister it meant loss of time. The Hon. Mr. C. M. Luke ('AVellington): Could there not be some method of differentiating between the small and the large institutions? The Chairman thought something in that direction might be done. Mr. Bagnall (Auckland) suggested that a percentage of annual income might be taken as a basis. The Chairman : I will take that as a recommendation. Remit agreed to. j ■ '^