HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 165, 12 July 1894, Page 9

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard was held yesterday afternoon, when there wero present:— Messrs John Bollard (Chairman), J. M. Lennox, S. G. Ambury, J. Gordon, Bruce and Trenwith. Hospital Rules.—The Secretary of the Honorary Medical Staff wrote that the Honorary Visiting Stall had been unable to report to the Board upon the alterations in the rules ef tho Hospital at this meeting, bub would form a committee with that object in view to report to nexb meeting of tlia Board. He was directed to aek that a sub-committee bo appointed to meet the I Stall1 Committee ab tae end of the coming week to consider any suggestions the Hon. Staff might make. A Committee consisting of the Chairman (Mr Bollard) and Messrs Lennox and Gordon was appointed with that object in view. Visiting Staff.—The Secretary ta the Hon. Medical Visiting Staff' informed the Board that Dr. .(iirdlpr bad been elected Chairman for the ensuing year, and that he (the Socretary) had been appointed to act; as the other member of the stall" c- t-ho House Committee. Thb Aged.—Duncan Campbell (77). and a man named Bennett, were Emitted to the Home for Shree months. House Sukgison. — la reply to the advertisement of the Board witli reference to the position of House Surgeon ab tho Hospital, applications were teceived from Dr. 11. H. Makgill (Auckland), and Dr.. A. J. Nicoll (Arrow District Hospital). Both applications wera referred to the Honorary Medical Staff to report at next meeting*of tho House Committee, which shall havo power to act. Ophthalmic Surgeon.—Dr. Robert Bedford, M.R.C.8., Louden, applied for this posibion, and hia application and testimonials were similarly dealt with. Hospital Library.—Dr. Little wrote saying he desired to present Geo. Eliot's works to tho library for the use of the patients.—The Board decided to thank Dr. Little for tho donation. Oli> People's ReitjCK.—The master of the Refuge reported that the number of inmates at dato was males 120, females 39. Auckland Dispkksakt.—Dr. Hooper applied for £50 increase in his salary, as bis work had increased considerably since ho undertook the duties of medical officer to the Institution. In the old days of the Dispensary tho salary, he said, was £175, and the medical officer had not then to visit Ponsonby, Parnell and Newmarket, tho radius of visiting being limited to the city.—The Chairman said Dr. Hoopor'a salary was £100. One member thought that a younger man than Dr. Hooper should bo appointed to the position.—On the motion of Mr Ambury tho matter was deferred till next meeting- in consequence of the small number of members present. Children Boarded Oct.--A return bompiled up to the 31sb March showed that the numbor of children boarded out ab tisat I date was 22 boys and 1& girls.

Cuildrkn Attending Schools.—Ab the 31st March 21 boys and 12 girls were being maintained in Industrial Schools. CosTLEr Home.—dumber of inmates ab Ist April, 1893 : 116 male? and 36 females ; admitted during the year, 64 males and 19 females ; discharged, 33 mules and 6 females ; died, 28 males and 8 females; number remaining ab 31sb March, 1894, 235 ; maternity ward, 15. Destitute Persons Bill.—A copy of this Bill was forwarded for the consideration of the Board. The following memorandum by the Chairman was read:—"l have bo report that in my opinion the following matters should be dealt with in the Bill now before Parliament, or in somo measure of a kindred character. 1. Facilities should be given to Charitable Aid Boards to obtain information from banks or other corporations, on demand, of moneys or property in the possession of persons receiving charitable aid. 2. Steps should be taken by the Government to control the neglected children in large centros of population. I would suggest that tho Governmenb take over the whole expense and control of children boarded-out, or maintained in orphanages by Boards, and so enlarge the scope for usefulness of the industrial schools. i 3. Thab greater facility be given than is contained in the Imbecile Passengers Act for preventing Vessels from bringing destitute persons to the colony who are likely to prove a burden upon the public charitable institutions." The Chairman expressed the opinion thab the question of destitute children could be dealt with much more efleefcively by the Government than by tho Board, as they would be better able having the aid of the police to trace out parents who neglected to take proper caro of their children. Mr Ambury thought that it was not the duty of the State to take away children from their parents a»d provide for them, there would in that case bo very few who would make any eHorb to keep their children; What was needed was a more effective means of compelling tho parents to contribute towards the support of their offspring. Mr Lennox also spoke to the samo effect, while Messrs Gordon and Trenwith agreed with Lhe Chairman. The Chairman also pointed out that ab present they had no power to apply to a banking institution to see whether an applicanb for relief is possessed of means, before such person becomes a recipient ot charitable aid. A clause should certainly be introduced into the Bill, grantingsuch power to charitable aid bodies. Several members also concurred in thiß opinion. Notice of Motion.—Mr Gordon gave notice of the following motion for next Meeting of the Board :—" Whereas ib appears from a statement made by Dr* Hooper, in a letter to the Board, dated 12th June, that no proper record is kept of tho casoa treated by him on behalf of the Board, resolved that Dr. Hooper be required to keep a case book, in which shall be entered all cases treated by him as above, and thab an abstract of the same be furnished to the Board on the first day of every month; aIBO, that the outdoor dispenser shall enter, de die in diem, into a book, to be called the • outdoor dispensary book,' full particulars of each and every prescription made up by him to the order of the outdoor medical officer, and forward the said book for inspection by the Board on the first day of every month."