GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 9 June 1880, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

=— ♦ Wellington, .Tuns 4. Mr Hall moved the second' reading of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill. He said the effect of legislation in Parliament had been to create a variety ef systems for the working of these institutions. Since tbe abolition of Pro* vincjes their management had devolved on Government, and despite their endeavors to the contrary a very great diversity of modes of working still prevailed, After detailing the various purposes of the Bill, he went on to say that a measure of this kind must of neee^sily be open to a great deal of difference of opinion, and that Government would go into committee on the Bill quite prepared to consider every reasonable proposition: Mr Pyke described the Act as a good one. Mr Shepherd also spoke in favor of the Bill.. Mr Montgomery generally concurred in the Bill, and pointed out one or two details which he thought admitted of improvement, „. The following are ihp njain provisions of ithe Bill: — It provides for the ap* pointments of Districts and Boards elected by local bodies and subscribers, the first having totes by representation ; one^ lor first £100 subserved} two for over" £100 ; three if o?er £200 ; and so on till five for over £500 are reached. Local bodies contributing lef s than £100 may 5 combine and vote as on* 1 . Tbe Government to determine what shall be the projortion of subscribers' votes. Patients must pay not exceeding 20s per week;, and if without means tbe Board may sue relations under the Destitute Persons Act. Local contributory bodies neglecting to pay may be sued ; and they have the choice to pay out of ordinary revenue or levy a special rate. The Government will give £ for £ sub* sidy on local subscriptions, exclusive of revenue derived from rents or endowments, and will also subsidise £ for £ on money raised for erection or repairs of buildings, Local bodies will have sole control and management, and may establish branch hospitals or charitable institutions. They may appoint or remove medical officers and attendants, secretaries and treasurers. They will also have power to lease agricultural land for 21 years and town lands for 50 years, such leases"to be sold by public auction or i tender, two months' public, notice being previously given. Mr Stevens concurred in the opinion that the general principles of the Bill were good. Mr Hutcbeson thought the Bill, from clauses 4 to 33 would be found to be cumbersome. MrAndrews said there were clauses in the Bill which he disapproved of, but they could easily be put right in com* mittee. Sir W. Fox looked upon this as one of the most important measures that could be brought before the House. He could not approve of tbe Bill to the extent to which other members had done. The fault he found with tbe Bill was that it dealt wj'th, the symptoms, and not the root of the disease. In doing so they only succeeded in driving the disease inwards. It wa3 calculated to promote, so to speak, the taste for pauperism. The fact was they bad made the mistake of not striking at the root of the evil. How was it that the French peasant was enabled to hoard up nis money. It was this, they did not indulge in the pernicious habit of the bar parlor ; they did not indulge in horse racing or sweepftakes, so they did nothing of that kind. The only amuse* ruent they indulged in was a game o e

dominoes in his little parlor on a Sunday afternoon, and the most rigid economy in their expenditure, and p?r» severing industry in their .labours. If they could rescue tbe money that was at present spent ,in drink, that would be striking at the root of the evil, Close some, at least, of tbe pu 1 Tip houses, and remove tbe temptation that at present exists for drinking and shouting — let the man know what were the tendencies to pauperism— and they would be told it was drink, drink, drink. If they would remedy these evils, then they would | grapple with the evil. They .would be I striking at its very root, instead of i merely trifling with it or rather encouraging pauperism by means of a Bill of this kind.