HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15111, 29 October 1914, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MOX fHLY MEETING

The North Canterbury Hospital and "Charitable Aid Board met yesterday. Present—Messrs V. Hcrrell (chairman), T. J>. Boag, H. Jj. SoreiLson, W. Ji. Cooper, AY. W. Tanner, AY. McMillan. A. H. Tmnbull, J. D. Hall, AY. P. Spencer, G. Scott. J. Ashley, 0. Bradley, J. Dawson, Mrs Christie, and Mrs 1 Wilson." , j . Tho Hospital Committee recommended tho Board to invite applications for ' tho position of senior house f-orgeon for a year from February next, at £200 per annum. Tho Board was recommended to pay Nurso Gunn £50 for the loss of ono of her fingers, and to procure the services of a lady apprentice to the hospital dispenser, instead of having nurses act as'assistants as heretofore.

Tho Public Health Committee's report recommended that the erection of' tho homo for children sufferinj; , from pulmonary tuberculosis bo proceeded- .with as early, as possible, and that it be erected on a site , immediately abovo tho sanatorium, on land belonging to tho Board.

The .Finance Committee's.- report showed that after providing. tor cheques drawn to date, tao Board's, account would be in debit £3088..1s 7d. There was £3636 17s'Id p«yabie in subsidies Accounts amounting" to £3733 9a rfd were passed for puyment. Acting upon authority granted by tho Board, its solicitors liiid ,-been instructed" to tako action against the Jticcarton Borough Council. Hcathcote County Council, and ! the Waimairi Comity Council, for the full amount of contributions owing ior the year ending March 31st, 1915. After some .discussion it was decided to give the defaulting bodies a month, in "svhicb. io pay. up. A resolution was passed- strongly urging the Public Health Depurtmenfc to ro-instate tho nurse formerly working amongst, the Maoris at Tuahiwi, £v her work there, to prevent tno spread of consumption. A motion of appreciation was passed on the work of the Rev. C. A. i'Vacr, amongst '.he Maoris at Tu.ihiwi in the dticction of educating them in liygieno as well as on other lines. _The socrctarj of the Canterbury Women's Institute forwurd,ed copy of a letter ad<lres«etl to t!:e Minister of Justice drawing his attention to the fact tbnt- a payment of Ss p*r week was not sufficient to keen children boarded-o'it by t'-e Govern. , rent. With this amount as the recompense, there was grave danger of the children being overworked .and underfed. Tho Institute considered payments should be not I«» 3 •than 15s per week for infants under twelve, months, , and I-β per week ior' other children. Tho letter further pointed cut that a jjravo injustice was dono lo both foster parents and children by tho State withdrawing all aid when tho child reached fourteen. This debarred such children from :ill occupations exeopt as (k)iKeltic or farm sorvanis. The" Instiinte. considered that paytuont should be continued til) as least seventeen years of asc. Tho letter w:;s referred to -"ho Charitable- Aid Committee. The Inspector-General Hospitals wrote stating that iiie Governmer : ; would f.rant half the amount of ail charitable aid frrantecl to families of prisoners of war. It w;»s stated fbr.f no such case had re. occurred in Christchurch.