HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 289, 5 December 1889, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

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t !'r X "- V oof th 3 newly-olected members oi tne Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at 3.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. I resent: 2J ewra 0. Atkin, 0. May*, J. fowalop, ?. Dignan, 11, Ur.ly, J. Bollard, J. M. Lennox, A. Kidd,aud W. F. Buekland. •ELECTION of CifAiKftiA.v.—Mr P.Dignan moved and Mr Swales seconded, " That Mr U Atkin bo appointed chairman for the ensuing year." This was adopted unanimoiiß.y _Mr Abkin, in returning thank.*, tjuct that this wa3 his third' year at that table. During the past year all tho olcJ chronic cases requiring aid had been entered in a book, which had lessened the labours of tho Charitable Aid Committee. Many cases had been struck otY, and he hoped that more would follow during ttio new year. With regard to the Hospital, tho Board had resolved to make many improvements in that institution. The Board were determined to understand the internal working of the Hospital as well as outside matters. He was quite sure that the gentlemen around the table would bo oqual to attending to their duties.. He thanked them for again appointing him to the chair, and would endeavour to make their Hospital one of tho best-numaged institutions in New Zealand.

Committees.—-The next business wae the appointment of committees. —Mr Mays said that tho labours of the Charitable Aid Committee liad now been reducod, and he thought that two members of the Board would be enough to do the work.—lt was decided that Mr P. Dignan should be Chairman of tho Charitable Aid Committee. Ifc waa also resolved that the members of the Board should aitend the Coniuntboe in rotation each week.

House Committee.— Mr Mays suggested that the whole Board should be a House Committee for the next three months until after Dr. Collins had been duly installed.— Mr Atkin coincided with that suggestion, wore especially as a Refuge Committee would shortly be required. —Mr Udy moved and Mr Lennox seconded, that Messrs Dignan, Mays, Buckland, aud Lennox be appointed a House Committee for the next. fix months.—Mr Kidd soconded Mr Mays's motion. He though each member should take an interest in tho Hospital.—Mr Mays's motion was adopted, with the addition that three members should form a quorum ; the time iixed being three months.

RiiroßTS.—The House Surgeon reported 59 males and 23 females in tho Hospital in the Upper Kotuge there wore 66 males and 18 females, while thsre were 45 males and 14 females in the Lower Refuge.

Hoitsk Committee.—The Committee reported that a tender had beea accepted for a cooking apparatus lor the new Refuge, at a cost of £59 19s. It was also decided to uccept the tender of Mr Cook for 100 mattresses, at a cost of 14s 6d each. Messrs Garlick and Cranwell were the lowest; tenderers for the supply of 100 bedsteads, but as there was some question as to whether they could be supplied in time, the matter was referred to the House G'onimitteo, with power to act. Industkial School.—A lebter was read from the Government in reply to the question of the Board as to whether the reduction iv cost of maintenance of children in the Industrial School would apply to those committed prior to the date menticued in previous notifications. The raply was that it merely referred to those committed since that date.—Mr Mays said that< it meant that it cost more to maintain children who had been committed two years ago than those admitted at the present time. I.ts seemed a most astonishing fact, but that was practically the decision of the Government.— Mr Lennox said chat this was a time when the Board should speak with no uncertain sound. He moved, " That the Government be requested to recjupe the charge tor maintaining all the children to G&perhead." This was agreed to, and the • Secretary was authorised to cpmmunipate with the Government.

Hospital Management.—A letter was read from P. A. Philips, Tqwn Clerk, forwarding resolutions arrived at by a public rn.ee.ting held in the Choral Hall, in which objection was taken to the alterations in tbe. management of the Hospital.—Mr Lenpox uioyed, " That the letter be received." He said it was never coutemplated by the Board that the Hospital should be managed by only one man. They were anxious to work with the Honorary Staff, but at the same time they wished to have some person who would be responsible to the Board. He would move that a committee consisting of the whole Boaiu jfa appointed to confer with the Medical Superintendentandthe Honorary Staff with a view to arranging all these matters. Ho considered that medical men. were no better nor no worse than their neighbours. There were times when medical men had casee of ijaportance which they could not leave to attend at the Hospital. Then the result was that their patients in the Hospital were neglected. Such caees had occurred, and he regretted that euch had been the case. Novy the Board wished to stop such things for the future. They panted some gentleman in the institution waft would be responsible to the Board that their, patients should be attended to whether the Medical .Staff were present or nob. The Board had only one desire, and that vras to make the Hospital efficient, to make it a school for young surgeons, and at the same time eecure thorough attention for the patients.—Mr Buckland contended that this should be considered as a special eubjecfc, and notice should be given of the motion.— M r Bollard thought it would be wise to wait until the new medical officer took charge of the institution.—Mr Swales agreed wifch Mr Bollard.— :Ultimatelytheletterwas received, and consideration of the samo, together with Mr Lennox's motion, was deferred untii the first week in January.

HousbSokgeon.—The Chairman reported that Dr. Forbes would be leaving the Hospital ab the end of the year. Ib was decided to consider this matter later on.