CHARITABLE AID.

Inangahua Times, Volume 19, 18 November 1878, Page 2

CH ARIT ABLE AID.

Th« Ohristchuroli Charitnblo Aid and Hospital Board hold n conference yostnr* doy morqitiß iv the City Council Olmm. Bern, Tri'h tho Hou Colonel Whitmore. Colonial Seorolnry os to tho fut«r» position of tho Board with ivforcnoo to tho Gov<?rnmont nml tho public. Colonel Wliitmot'o oxpbinod nt considarabU Icnulli tho views of tho Gorontmont on tho quostion of the iniintenonco of lios pi till s mid ou Unit of charitnblo aid. lie stated ifiAt tlio Financial Arran^omonts Act of tho fast seKsion hnd provisions of i so elastic a charaoior, that it ml&hi bo '

nide to apply to any sol of circumstunco* ibtniuing in a purtiou ';ir district. Such that coulJ cmiblo tho Govorrlmeut to Joal districts in which tho inhabitant* oloctod bodies to tnko charge of thono institutions, with distriots in which the public rafufied to lnkc any aolion in rogard to (horn, and with districts in which some portions were willing while other por<» tions wore vnwilling to assume any responsibility. It h»d been said that the Government woro disposed to in'rodnoa a poor law, Nothing was further from their wishes. They had adopted n system ' by which all contributions, whether in the shapo of grants from local public bodies or of contributions from individual* should be subsidised from tho Contolidntod Hevonu<», to tho extant of £ for £. Ercry kind of contribution, evrn such ns ro» suited from bfiziais or benefit ontortainments, would be considered n» ontitled to Government subsidy. It was desirable that tho country should bo dividod into separate groups for certain cantros in which the maehinory of hospitals and chnritablo Rid oould bo most cillciontly worked. Before arranging thene croups tho Government wishod to consult with, and obtain th* ndvico of, thoso most in4«res?od and best acquainted W'th th* various localities, sons to insure 11 n eoono* mical expenditure nnd the greatest posfiiblo ftoodom from risk of imposture. The eouferenco lust for about two hours, and during the discussion it was arranged that the members of tho Chnritabla Aid nnd Hospital Ikmrd shoul I prepare for subm Asion to tho Government uu ostimi'a of iho annuttl expenditure at the Hospital, which mitfht bo expected ond of the probable nmount roccirablo from paying pationts. It was furlhor niiroed that tho B >ard should endeavor to B^orrtnin what cr^npings of lh« munieipulitics and counties of Canterbury would be tho mont o'osiroblc on lh# .icnre of community of interest and cquiitable distribution of oliurgon, nnd fucli fnr'hpr ii formation as mitjht enable the Government to mnko a fair trial of tho principle they wished to carry inlo *ffoct.