BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11791, 14 January 1904, Page 5

BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL.

THE QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE. :

A special meeting of the Hospital Board > vraa held yesterday for the purpose of conferring with Dr. Mason; Chief Health ' Officer, with regard to the maintenance of 1 the Bottle Lake Hospital. There were present—Messrs JQ. Paylmz (chairmen) J. Himiltpn, P. Horrell, J. Vfolle, J. Dunlop. K. Feldwick, D. D. Macfarlane, H, H. loughnan, G. -H. MctHsffie, W McMillan. C. IT. Winny, and J. Dobwm. Dr. Maaon (Chief 'Health Officer), Dr. Finch (District Health Officer), the Mayor of Christehttrch (Hon. Henry F. Wigrwn), and the Town Clerk (Mr H. K. Smith) were slso ia at-' ' tendance. . The following report from the Howe Committee was submitted, and vn subsequently agreed to— "The Honae Snrg«on nported that Dr. Finch had informed him wot a- MVfg&eiom case of possible smallpox had heen teak to liotße Lake Ho%piU»l, and mnrt be takeacharge of by the Board. Dr. Crooke ariced for instruction*. It waa rwohred, that in view of the present impossibility of ob- * taming funds for tlve pnrpow* of the Act, , the Chief Health Officer be nmtested to take charge of the Bottle Lake HjWrpHai, and the patient above referred to,' goder -' -> section 6of the kmm^a^BM^jJa^,,' ' until this Board is in and that in view of the caee, as represented by Dr. Qrook*, ' (lie. House Surgeon be empowered to amnge for the attendance of * medical practitioaer and » cone to tai* temporary,

cliarge of the case. If any emergency orhes, it shall be reported to him by the matron in charge." Befor* the Healtli Officers arrived tho Chairman dealt bric-Sy with tha position. and pointed out that the providing o: itmda for the maintenance of the hospiul •was the difficulty that the Board had to contend \rith. Dr Mason mid he ucdorstood the Beard ■was quite willing to undertake th<j control of the uuectioan diseases hofspital. There ■was about £1330 chargeable to the local authorities. As the bailings were absolutely new, he thought it would hi unfair to charge the. loci! bediea vritli the whole of this amount. The question as to the axta on which was to ba levied the rate to pay for the maintenance of the hospital was one on which he wished the Board to make a recommendation. The area would probably be altered from tho present hospital area and would probably bo lessened. The outlying bodies, it was pointed tint, would be unable to avail themselves of the benefits of an infectious diseases hospital in thiseity. tH« thought that the district* comprised within a radins of twelve miles from tue city should constitute the contributing nrea. _ He referred to the power jriven Hospital Boards, under last fusion's amending Act, to expend their funds on the erection of buildings, and said the scheme roughly drafted by the department was far the erection of 'shelters for consumptives. He thought Christchurch was eminently suited for t-VLch shelters, and hoped the Board would take the matter ialo consideration. Mc •ifc-Halne wished to know where the for.ds were coming from to maintain the hospital until the end- of the Board's financial year. The Board couid not spend any of its present funds on the Bottle Lake Hos-piial, or, if they did, each member would be personally liable for the amount expanded. He Mijzested that the Chief Health OlHcer should exercise the powers given him under section 6 of the I amending Act, which empowers the Chief Health Officer to expend moneys on infectious diseases hospitals and recover the amount so expended frem the contributing bodies. .The Chairman ro.id the Board had only sufficient funds to carry oa the general hospital. 7 Dr. said he realised that this was -the crux of tho whole question. He advised that thu Minister should be communicated with and permission asked for him to exercise the powers given him (the Chief 'Health OfFcer), trailer tho Act. Ho pointed oat tlii't the power piven him in the Kcciion meni.io:.e'l v.-s i,:uy io be <xcrclr.cA in the event of a- iT;.;;»I:.;l Board kJuring to tnk<? control o: an infectioua diseases hospital. It vraa deridoJ to yen J the following to £:r Josrph W.-.rJ, Minister for Public Health:— "The amended Health Act provide? this Board •with r.o funds for present urgent needs cf Bottle Lake Hospital. Board ready to assume control end pay nccount3 tine* passing of amended Act, if funds ara provided, nntil the Board cm levy rate under amended Act. If Health Ofiicer authorised by Government to art under section 6, this Board could discharge its function under amended Act." A discussion ensued on the subject <~f the proposed area which should contribute to the maintenance of the infectious' disease* hospital. Dr. F.inch stated that cases had been dealt with at Bottle Lake from Christchurch, Lyttelton, New Brighton, Sumrter, the four Toad districts around Christchurch, and from the Templeton and Lincoln road districts. .Tho Mayor (Hon. Henry F. Wigram) was of opinion that the contributing erea should bear the cost of the construction of the Bottle Lake hospital. It was resolved—"That in the opinion of this Board, the limit of the' contributing area ehould be twelve Jnilcs Jtffem the Bot. tie Lake Hospital," an amenfiment to defer discussion being negatived. On the motion of Mr JLoughitas and Air Macfarlane it was agreed—"That in the opinion'of this Beard tho capital , |cost of the Bottle Lake Hospital should .be charged upon the contributing districts hereafter to be settled under the amended -Health Act. 1993. and that each cost Ixs provided for in the estimates for that institution for the coming year." * Mr Dobsem was appointed to act dm the Board's delegate at the conference to be I Shc'ld on this 20th inst. j A Tote of thanks was eccorded Dr. iTason, who thanked the members of the Board for according to him the kindness usually l extended to him. in this city. The secretary of the Hospital Board received a telegram fron!NSir Joseph Ward last night, stating that the Health Officer would,be authorised by Government to act 'under section' 6 of the Amended Health Act. as enggested ia the terms of the Board's motion. '<