Hospital and Charitable Aid

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 63, 9 August 1906, Page 3

Hospital and Charitable Aid

riAND TAKEN m BRUCE COUNTS COUNCIL.

PROPOSED HOSPITAL DISTRICT

At the meeting of the Bruce County Council on Tuesday a letter was recei\ed from the Clutha County Council refusing to send a delegate to represent the council at the meeting of represents"tives of local bodies, to consider a proposal to erect an hospital for the combined districts of Bruce and Clutha, as thai body was quite, satisfied with the present arrangements. The Chairman (Cr Mosley) said that it appeared to him the > Clutha County Council did not undorstand the position; he could not understand the attitude that body had taken up. If an hospital wore established in the district the cost to, the would only be one-half of that at present, and tffey could not calculate the benefits to be derived. The action of the Clutha Council should not deter the Bruce Council. If an hospital were erected in Bruce it would intercept paying patients from Clutha district, and the Clutha Council would be made to pay through the nose for the other patients. The Bruce Council had shown all courtesy and goodfellowship, and he thought the council should now proceod with the erection of the hospital.

At a later stage the Chairman referred to the meeting of delegates of local bodies ot Bruce and Clutha, held on July 4th, which was attended by representatives from Milton, Balclutba, and Kaitangata Borough Councils, and members of the Bruce County Council, to consider a proposal to establish a separate hospital district for Bruce and Clutha. The tone of the meeting was distinctly favorable. To establish a separate hospital district would also mean a separate charitable aid district, which was what they had been fighting for for years. Ho moved —" That tho county solicitor be instructed to draw up an enabling Bill to declare the county of Bruce and boroughs of Milton and K utangata to be a separate district under the and Charitable Institutions Act, "1886," and that Mr Jus. Allen, M.H.R, be asked to take charge of the Bili in the House." The county would huve the majority of vo*es if there was a separate district, according to its rateable in'eresta, but the two boroughs would have 'heir share of members also on the board, ani it would be a much better and direct wiy of dealing with cases than at present. Refetring to the present constituiion of the Charitable Aid Board, he remark l- d there were 14 members, and of ihis number there were only four country representatives. If they had their own institutions they would be able to look better after iheir own poor and sick.

[r, wou'd certainly be a better arrangement for the ratepayers, fork would cost them less. He estimated that while Bruce received >£ls6 value it paid away accoiding to present arrangement, no less than £4OB. On an average there was one patient per month from Bruce in Dunedin Hospital, and the council was paying £306 per year, which, with the Government subsidy of £ for £, meant a total revenue of £612. If Balclutha Borough decided to join with them he understood another speoial act would be required. The Clutha Council was evidently determined to stand out-, otherwise one bill would have sufficed for both counties.

Cr Begg asked if the question of site would not have to bo arranged first. Or Adam seconded the motion, and said the site was a secondary consideration, so long 83 it was within the county. Charitable aid would be more satisfactorily distributed by a local board, because the members would have a better knowledge of the circumstances. He thought the proposal shcjgH be proceeded with at once It would sus| the ratepayers and appli cants for relief alike. Cr Noble said the Chairman deserved the thanks of the council for the stand he had taken with reference to the hospital scheme and charitable aid. A district hospital would cost less m d be of great benefit to suffering humanity. Tney had had samples of the distribution of charitable aid, and with reference 10 the China man at Adams Flat it was i bsurd to ask that he should live on 3s per week. Cr Begg also expressed the opinion that the proposal would be a step in the right direction. At one time he was opposed to the proposal, but after seeing the balance sheet of Tuapeka Hospital he had changed his mind. They had to pay the money, and it might as well be spent in the district. He was sorry that Clutha had not joined with them, but he expected their additional support would be forthcoming if the scheme was gone on with. As at present carried out the distribution of charitable aid was a farce,

and legislation was required to effectively deal with the question. Cr Driver said he was in favor of the scheme, but he could not agree that the question of a site was a matter of detail. If the proposed institution was erected at Stirling, it would be of verylittle use as tar as the upper end of Bruce was concerned. The Chairman pointed out that tha matter must be looked at from a humanitarian point of view. The majority of the accidents occurred at that end.

Crs (Jrane, Brown, and Tough also spoke in favor ot the proposal, the iatter adding that from what the Eaitangata delegates had said at the las'; meeting it would appear as if Stirling must be the site. The Chairman said he was gratified to hear such a unanimous expression of approval, which meant that the council was in touch with the people of Bruce. He trusted they would ail continue to give the propoml thsir strong support until they had their own hospital and board and became a self contained community. The motion was carried unanimously.

CHARITABLE AID. The secretary to the Benevolent Institution wrote that the trustees did not consider Mrs M'lndoe (G-lenledi) waw entitled to receive aid from the institution, as she had four children over the ago ot fifteen years, two of whom are working, and not contributing to their mother'a support ; they ought to be called upon to contribute. In the mean lime ihe present allowance would be continued for four weeks. Cr Noble gave details whh reference to the age of the members of the family. The mciher was paying 5b per week for

rent, and boarded a son at school for 7s 6d per week; she had no laud, and merely asked that the relief be granted for twelve months, in order that her youngest son might receive an education. In common justice to humanity the woman should rcoeive relief until the son was educated. The Chairman remarked that in all such cases as thii the local authority ought to have direct control. He did not wish to sot town against country, but if a similar case oocuired in Dunedin the woman would receive relief and house rent. It was ridiculous tho manner in which the country was represented on the Board at present. The town mem bers did not care a straw for the country people. The council should be allowed to de.il with its own cases. He did not desire to take anything from the poor, but they should be dealt with by each local authority. Cr Noble moved that application be made for relief to be granted for one year at 7s 6d per week.—Agreed to.

Mr Parker M'Kinlay, Stirling, asked council to recommend to the Trustees that Bertie Daniels, a deaf aud dumb youth, be granted the sum ot 5s per week, to be given in the form of provisions from the local storekeeper.—Left in the hands of the chajrinan to make further inquiries.

At Wednesday night's meeting of the Milton Borough Council a letter was received from Mr A. Clulee, secretary to the Otago Benevolent Institution Trustees, with reference to a case recommended by the council for relief, stating that the person owned property valued at £l5O, and the trustees could not grant relief to property owners; they would, however, continue the allowance for four weeks. Tho applicant shou'd call upon his two sons for relief. His Worship said very little money was received from tho trustees in comparison with what was paid in. Cr Riaeh said the sons could not pay more than 5s each per week. The trustees might be within their rights, but if tho man sold his house the money would only keep him and his wife lor a couple ol year. Mr James Allen, M.H.R., and nimsclf had interviewed tho trustees, but they absolutely declined to grant relief on the point of the man owning property, and having two sons at work. He did not see that the council could tako further action. Cr King remarked that if a resolution was passed it would show the council's (feeling in the matter, and it Cr Riach did not wish to move he would do so. Cr Riach stated that he had already privately couched himself in terms to the Charitable Aid Board. However, he would move that the trustees be advised that the man's property was not of the value ot i£lso, that the two sons were unable to contribute more that 10s per week to the support of tho two old people, and that the council requests the trustees to reconsider their decisior. —Seconded by Cr King, and agreed to. • His Worship drew attention to another casein Milton where the relief to a man hid been stopped bf cause the wife received tha old-age pension ; it was absurd to thiuk the old people could live on 10s per weals, and pay rent. He understood that in Dunedin persons were al'owtd house rent up to 8s per week in addition to relief. He thought these facts should be brought under ihe notice of the trustees. —lncluded in previous motion.