HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 212, 6 September 1892, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Thk usual fortnightly meeting of the Auck. land Hospital arid Charitable Aid Board wus held at the Board's offices, High-street, yesterday afternoon. There were prosont: —Moasra C. Ackin (Chairman), J. Bwales, J. Gordon, P. Dignan, .7. BollaH. Costi;ey-Homb.—Soveral applications for admission to the Uostley Old People's Homo at) Epsom were considered.—lt was decided to admit an old soldier named Wm. Osborne, who was in roceipt of a poneion. Ho was 68 years of age, and had served with the 65th Regiment in tho Maori War. Charles Goodroom, an old man, was also admitted to the Home. 16 was docided to admit an old woman named Mrs Clark to the Homo for three months and to communicate with a brother of hers in order to endeavour to get some payment for her maintenance. —Another case dealt with was that of a woman who had left the Home repeutedly, and who was now bofore tho Board applying for re-admission. She was ro-admitted, with the understanding that she would bo punished if she peri gistod in defying the master and matron of tho Homo. The master of the Costley Old People's Refuge reported that bbere were at presonb in tho Home 111 men and 36 women. Since last report two men and one woman had died.

District Hospital. — The Resident Surgeon reported that there werp ab present 61 men and 35 women in the District Hospital. Ono man and two women had died since last report, ono from accidental injurios, ono from disease of the apine and one from disease of the hearb. It was recommended by the House Committee that if ib were not possible to isolate cases of venereal disease in tho Hospital they be not admitted at all, it being understood that one ward would be rvailable for male caßGa. The consideration of this clause of tho Committr.o'B report was deferred. It w«8 also docided to take stops to abate the rat nuisanco in tho Nurses' Home.

Hospital Fees.— As we wont to press the Board resumed the discussion of Mr Kidd's motion for the rescinding of tbo previous resolution of the Board authorising tho publication of the names of all ex-patienta of the District Hospital who had not paid their Hospital fees. Tho consideration of tho motion was deferred from laeb meeting.—Mr Bollard contended that it would be very unfair to place hard-working country settlers and others who paid rates, who might become inmates of the Hospital through accident or illness, in tho humiliating position which thoy would be in if the resolution were nob rescinded. He objected to the publication of the naouos of tboso who had, through misfortune, been unable to pay their Hospital fees.— After considerable discuesion on Mr A. Kidd's motion, "That the previous resolubion of the Board authorising the publication of the names of persons who havo nob paid their Hospital fees be rosclnded," the motion was carried.

Finance.—ln his statement of finance the secretary and treasurer reported that the Board's overdraft on the Bank-wan £2,949 6s 9d ; tho general liabilities being some £900, and the accounts against the Board for August (estimated) £800. Against this a Government subsidy of £889 5s 7d had just been received. It was decided cided to inform the secretary and troaeury, in answer to a telegram, that tho roturn showing the list of contributing bodies who had not paid their quota to the Board this year had been submitted up to July instead of December, owing to the very dilatory action of these bodies as regarded payment of Oheir hospital and charitable aid contributions.

Venereal Disease.—The Board then wont into Committee to consider the quo9> tion of isolating cases of venereal dieoa6o at the Hospital, or in lieu thereof of refusing them admission altogether.