HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

V F>TF.RI)A VS M F.ETINO

'I'ln- monthly tstootin.i oi' the North I'liiiii i'liim'.v Hospital i'.Ji'l * haritabl'.-. Ait! Hoard ivas held l'v<-.-out: Mr F. 1 toir"ii (chairman>. da/nes Wilson. Cv rn. and Christie, ilif lion. R. Moon. and Messrs IT. -J. (>i|i»y, \v. 11. Cooper. W. McMiilan, li. I ':i 11 oi -on. .1. Orion Brad:' I .'', )• ; ;( k.I S. Andrew. I!. Kv.-uu-. W-j-'pi-neer. j'. f;. Norton. W. Waiter, and W. Niirholl.-.

Mr V.". Niehoiis moved: "'lliat the w:."ies of all and labourers In- increased hy l> P';r day instead ol

tkL " . , i Mr I''. O. .Norton sevonaed 'he mo tli'll.

1 lie socict.ny, in anMVpr to a ({iic.ition. said that- about twelve mt'ii would lie ;iti(<-t<'li bv the jiroposecl rise. Mr W. Nieholls eN[)laira;d tlint his motion did not reier to the head who were provided with houses. He asked leave to amend his molion so that it would 'ippiy only to those men who had been already raised 6d per day. The leave asked for by the mover was granted. I;i answer to a question the secretary said the men were already buitig paid the award rate and a little more, l'he award rate with a 10 per eent. bonus would ho about 10a 3d per day. Mr Walter said there were other servants of the Board who, in his opinion. were also entitled to a rise.

The chairman .said he could not allow any discussion on that subject. It was eventually decided to reler tlic matter to the Finance Committee for a report. Tho South Canterbury Hospital Board wrote agreeing to the terms proposed by the Board for tho use of the Cashmere Sanatorium, and stated that it would be ready to enter into an agreement for a term of years. The chairman explained that it was not proposed to go on with the scheme unless practically all the other Boards concerned consented to come in.

In response to his request, Dr. Pairman was relieved from his duties _ ss an honorary physician on the hospital staff, being transferred to the emergency staff. The change ivas made owing to the return of Dt. Crooke to Christchurch.

The Woolston Borough Conncil wrote asking why patients who nad ah income of £3 per week had their feefi remitted, while old age pensioners had their pensions stopped during the time they were in hospital. The chairman said when an old j.ge pensioner came into hospital, all his or her liabilities for living expenses ceased, .but a man getting £3 a week with a family to keep could not afford to pay much in hospital fees. The Waimairi. County Council wrote protesting against rating the local bodies for capital expenditure, such as the erection of new buildings, and suggested that the money be raised by loan.

The chairman explained that the Board could possibly raise money by loan with the aid of the Finance Minister, but it had no security to offer that would he taken by the lenders.

The Selwyn County Council wrote stating that the increase on the levy was most unreasonable, and suggested that tho building programme of the Board should be cut down while the cost of material was so high.

The Akaroa County Council also wrote, stating that it viewed with alarm tho heavy increase in hospital expenditure. The Kaikoura County Council wrote in a different strain altogether, stating that it wished to congratulate the Board 011 the highly commendable results of the work done in the past year. In answer to a question the secretary said that when old age pensioners were only in hospital for a short time, say a week or ten days, their pension was not taken. If they were in for a long period they surrendered the {"elision, being presented with any unexpended balance on leaving. On the motion of the chairman, all tho above letters were received.

The report of the chairman with regnrd to sites for maternity hospitals iu the AVaikari and Oxford districts was read. The report stated that four sites were inspected at AVaikari and two tit Oxford.

It was decided that the Finance Committee should take steps to purchase tho Oxford property and enter into negotiations with the vendors it ihe property oflered at AVaikari. The former section is situated on the Haruwood road, and is five acres in extent; the AVaikari section approved of consists of about acres, and is situated near the railway station. It was decided to instruct the Buildings Committee to have plans and specifications for the nccessary buildings prepared. The Hospital Committee stated that patients' fees collected since last meeting totalled £'023 Os 4d, and for the corresponding period last year £'43-5 ys. There was plenty of accommodation for sick and wounded soldiers in the hospital provided the Chalmers Memorial Ward was used. The Justice Department had announced that in future it would pay 30s per week for the treatment of prisoners in the hospital. The leport was adopted. Dr. G. J. Blaekmore reported that during the month ten new cases of tuberculosis were notified. There were 9< attendances at the dispensary, ana 52 uersons called for information. The Institutions Committee reported that on May 14th there were 104 inmates at Tuarangi, 19 at the Essex Home, 98 at the Memorial Home, and 40 at the Orphanage. The Charitable Aid Committee stated that it_ had dealt with 74 applications for relief, representing 212 persons, since the last meeting. On Mr S. Andrew's motion, it was decided to ask the District Health Officer to pav a visit to Mackenzie and inspect the Cheviot school, also to visit the Kaikoura and Cheviot districts and investigate the causes of the recent outbreak of diphtheria there. Mr Andrew stated that it bad been reported to him that the state of tne ground under the Cheviot school *vas very bad, owing to the lack of proper drainase. The outbreak of diphtheria at Kaikoura also needed investigation, and he considered that th» person to I investigate it was tho District Health Officer