Section 53. Each member of the board, other than the employee of the department of public health, shall receive from the commonwealth twelve dollars and fifty cents for each day or portion thereof spent in attending board meetings; and each member shall be paid the necessary traveling expenses actually incurred by him in attending said meetings; provided, that such compensation and expenses shall not in any one year exceed the receipts from registrations and licenses paid to the commonwealth by the board. The board may appoint such employees as may be necessary to carry out its duties and may expend therefor such sums as may be appropriated.