'A letter from the Ladies' Benevolent Sociely is read desiring that provision for a grant-in-aid may be inserted in the forthcoming Budget. In discussion thereof the Council expresses sympathy with the object which this society has in view, but is of opinion that it should continue to rely for fands upon voluntary subscriptions. The issue of a public grant could not fail to attract the attention of other charitable societies of and the members consider Present conditions, the public funds should not be appropriated for such purposes.
The application of St. Luke's Hospital made in August last for an increase in the Hospital's grant of Tls. 2,000 per annum is also submitted. In view of the fact that this grant was increased lately as in 1905, and of the probability that the work which the institution performs on behalf of the Native Branch of the Police Force will be lessened in the near future, the Council is of opinion that no sufficient reason for farther increase has been shown.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.