WESTLAND CHARITABLE AID.

West Coast Times, Issue 7282, 8 January 1889, Page 2

WESTLAND CHARITABLE AID.

IJOABI), ' M!M !P tf, jAritpr, f. The ordinary ip.ontb.iy meeting of the Board yfts field' at fc.3o pUa. jPresent — The ' *Chairniari,^and" sfcsSii Eisfelder, Holmes, Dungan, Currie, dimming, and The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and the outward correspondence read and approved. RECEIPTS AND BXPENDITUBB. Receipts, £251 13s 4d; expenditure, £382 16s Id; overdraft, £536 183 4d; subs dy due, £480. INWABD COBBESPONDEKOE. From Mr Miller, Secretary of the North Canterbury Board, with reference to the expenses incurred by a patient named Tbomas Lamason, formerly of Kumars, and stating that the aame would be charged to the Westland Board.-Ee-ceived.—Mr Dungao stated that a letter had been sent by the Worth Canterbury Board ti the Kumara Trustees in which the case was more fully explained than in the letter before the Boaid It would have been f lirer for the Canterbury Board to have mentioned that they had written to the Kumara Trustees. From Mr R. B. Wylde, Secretary of the Kumara hospital, bringing under notice the caae of Bolger, and asking the Board (8e& fourth page.)

to make other arrangements In regard to him is he was a maniac, and an unfit inmate for the hospital. Also asking for provisions for two old patients named Cross and BraDSton.— Received.— (Bolger died from theeffeets of an accident subsequent to the date of this letter.) O ther matters held over till later on. • From Mr Neilaen, Seoretary Ross Hospital, explaining that he had duly notified members of the special committee of the time of meeting ; eoc)o9insj also the report of the committee on Mr Bell's funeral account recommending the same to be paid. —Received,— Mr Holmea said the matter of the account had long been in abeyance, and in order to settle the qnestion he moved the report be adopted and the ac» count paid.—Seoonded by Mr Jack and carried. From same, enolosing December ac» counts and stating that the Committee a f rongly objected to receive chronic casea from other hospitals ; also encloßiDe Dr Brittin's report and tenders for suppr'es. -— Eeceived.— Tenders for supplies accepted. It was suggested by Mr Holmes to ask Mr Bell to furnish a price for funerals, — I Mr Currie said no one would tender.— Mr Holmes's suggestion was ordered to be j conveyed to Mr Bell. — The recommendations of the Boss Committee for continua* tion of usual aid was acceded to. The Committee reemmended the issue of 5s order?, but the Board declined to accede to the request, at the same time resolving to get the Committee to distribute the money amongat the varions trades people as much as possible,— Mr Holmes thought tendere should be called for supply ot rations in order to do away with the whole difficulty. He moved to that effect.— The Chairman seconded pro format but he thought the amount per month, £8 ss, too small to warrant doing so. Referring to the persons receiving aid in Boas he saii the Board was bound to accept the recommendations of the local committee, who bad a better knowledge of the cases than the Board could possibly have.— Oo the sug« gestion being made that all accounts in future be sent into the Board to deal with, Mr Holmes withdrew his motion From Mr Cuddeford, Secretary of West land Hospital, asking for usual monthly grant of £116 13* 4d,— Reoeived and 1 amount passed for payment. From Mr Rudkin, Secretary of Kumara Committee, enclosing accounts for £11 8s 6d, and recommending continuation of usual grants.— Received and recommendation agreed to. From Mr W. W. Henderson, Seoretary of the Hokitika Benevolent Society, apply* ing for usual monthly grant of £48 6b Bd. — Received, and amount passed for pay* ' ment. ACOoUHII. The rest of the inward correspondence was held over till after passing accounts, which amounted to £360. INWABD fiOSBISPONDENCE, From Sergeant Watson, Kumara, re-. porting through police office that a woman named Julia Burmeiaterjseriouflly ill, was lying in a cow shed in Seddon street, Kamara, and that she was not allowed admission to the hospital. — Received.— The Chairman explained that he had at tbe time taken no steps in the matter, considering it a matter for the Enmara com* mittee to deal with. From Dr Britthx, Ross Hospital, reporting on hospital matters, and the question of receiving chronic patients into the hospital.— Received. — The Chairman said the time had now «om« to settle question. He maintained that the hospitals were the proper plaoeafor these oases. There were three of these institutions in the district, and In the absence of homes, where could these aged and infirm persons go. In the case of Julia Bnrmeister, it was considered inadvisable by tbe Kumara Hospital Trustees to admit her to the hospital. The medical evidence showed that she was a fit inmate for a special hospital, but she would have to be pro* vided for somewhere and the hospital was undoubtedly the place. He felt certain more patients could be maintained in tbe hospi* tale. He considered, unless Trustees made other arrangements, that the Kumara Hospital chronic patients could be transferred to Boss and if there was not room there then an additional wing could be built. Even with these good hospitals it was found that the authorities were attempt* ing to keep cases from coming into them Referring to separate institutions he said it was their duty as such to maintain these cases instead of throwing the onus on the Board. He hoped some arrange* ment would be made which would obviate the necessity of erecting a building speciallyfto accommodate these cases. He complained of the clashing of various bodies. — Mr Currie objected to the removal of patients from Kumara to the Boss Hospital, so long as there was room in the former Institution.— Mr Cumming said that it would be an nnkindness of the Kumara people to attempt to get these people removed, if they had- been resident long in the place. They should mix kindness with their charity.— Mr Dungan said Mr Cumunng misunderstood the matter. The Kumara Trustees simply recommended this course if there were room in the H ss Hospital and knowing that the keep of such patients would be cheaper iv an institution under the control of the Board. With reference to Julia Burmeister, he denied she bad been for bidden the hospital ; she left of her own accord and in defiance of the dootor. He denied that the suggestion of providing other accommodation for ohronic patients originated from the Kumara Trustees. — Mr Cumming pointed out that he imputed no unkindness to the Trustees. — Mr Dungan considered Mr Cumming had done so and should retract the statement.— Mr Cumming reiterated his denial, stating he had used the word " if."— Mr Holmes said there was nothing in the Act compelling the Board to provide separate accommodation for these cases. The hospitals could be used for all cases. He considered no responsibility was thrown on tbe Board to provide for these cases. Ht advocated letting each;; district keep its owa patients and pay for them. Be was not opposed as things stood to transferring a few chronic cases to Ross if there was room. He believed in the Board carrying oat its idea* firmly. —Mr Jack considered the mattec was one | requiring great thought It was premature of tbe Kumars Trustees to raise the question at this date.— He did not think there was a community in Westland guilty of such treatment as that received by Julia Burmeister in spite of what Mr Dungan had said. There was plenty of rcom in the Kumara Hospital, and if there was not let the Trustees provide more accommodation. — Messrs Homes and Dungan pointed out to Mr Jack that the Kumara Trustees had not taken the initiative in reitpeot to these cases, but the Board bad.— >Mr Jack said this was no answer to tbie fact that a woman was allowed to lie ill In a cowshed. — Mr Dungan said that as Mr Jack wilfully refused to comprehend the explanation he had made previously in this matter, he would certainty not repeat it.— Tbe Chairman said that in Julia Burmeister's case there was great indiscretion shown somewhere. According to Mr Dungan the woman h;id been in the hospital, bnt if abe did loave and a ter wards was seriously ill the should htve

been fe-admitted. He alto Instanced Bolgcr'i cue, where the medioal opinion given was that tho man was sot a fit in* mate for the hospital, and areat was the opposition shown to putting him there. He thought these oases reflected seriously on the Koxnara Trustees. —Mr Eisfelder agreed with the Chairman that there was a great evil existing in tbe clashing between the different bodies. He considered the hospitals we c quite able to provide accommodation for every case, and should be made to do ?o. — Mr Dungan here folly explained th© BurmeiDter case, stating that it was tbe duty of the police to have taken charge of the woman. He entered fully into details, which were of a revolting nature. — The Board considered Mr Duo ■ gan's explanation very satisfactory. — The Chairman moved, and Mr Jack seconded, that a letter be written to the Kumara Hospital Trustees, to the effect that the Board did not consider any separate pro* vision should be made for chronic ca^es from the hospitals, suob institution being ample for all requirement, — Mr Holmes opposed tbe motion. He considered it better to hold tbe matter over for a fall Board meeting. By that time the various bodies .would have considered and fully ventilated the qceetioo. — Mr Eisfelder hoped Mr Holmes would withdraw his amendment. If removing patients was once started the hospital woald suddenly rind any number of chronic cases.— Mr Holmes withdrew his amendment, and the motion wa9 carried. The meeting then adjourned.