OUR HOSPITALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 222, 12 June 1908, Page 9

OUR HOSPITALS.

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. "POWERS AND FINANCES OF THE ' •' , BOARDS, ' . PROBLEMS OF ADMINISTRATION. i -Thß'Confereiico on Hospitals and Charit- , abl6! Aid, . having at previous . sittings dis-cussed-the geherai principles involved in- the Government's -proposed Bill, devoted itself -, yesterday morning. ...to. the - consideration -of tho i amendments, suggested by tho hospital , and chhritablo aid authorities in various parts , of the Dominion. Dr. T. H. A. Valmtine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, presided. The Conference adopted the suggestions of ,A committco :(of '.which Mr. Gallawav, of Dunedin, l was chairman) to simplify the out duplicate remits,' aijd those which hpd been rendered superfluous...by. resolutions .already, passed, ' Most of thoso remaining on the agenda paper' were thon dealt with-rapidly:' CONTRIBUTORS. .- - ln :!the!. interpretation , clause: of the Bill, "-.coiltrjhutor / " was defined as a person who . siibscfjbes/Dot "less.'thaii !'£l- per . or ,• £20.-irt!.one'donation to "an institution or for "in" the-'district. . St. • Andrew's--Orphanage,- Nelson,, bad for- - warded a.remit to..substitiito ss. in place of £I.' An 'amendment in favour of 10s. was moved seconded ,bv: Mr. L. J. Bagnall (Auckland) and; Mr. O'Brien (Mercury, Bay). , vTbojConference decided in favour- of ss. as the.vminimum subscription to give a; person the:;-privileges.? of. a contributor under tho Bill /, :■ -Jt'twas further resolved, on .tho motion of Mr. E. Ai«Tapper. (Dunedinl: . • : That .voluntarv.contributors to-separate : ifistitutiorjsir.bei! allowed to. electi!a.-;mqn)ber of 5 tho- Bpard -of Trustees." i, i?3tf,wtfß>re§olv^!..thatitown 'districts should: - be,,.included'.;inf. ho3pital districts .- ph ; the. •I- same .-basis as boroughs." ' ': .*.■% 1 ■ It was further resolved that tho month of April should be substitutecl -for the month of January, so that- the report and accounts -. end;.of the financial year.' 1 "' HONORARY 'SERVICE - !;Th'^.fol|bffi'iig''Waixarap3;reniit'was. agreed,: ' the-Coriference is .of opinion . that the r position of'/chairrnan should be.retained BS'-.dn-- honorary -one." -.' >. ,

, 'Mr. *3'. P. 'Luke (Wellington) - " That the chairman when from place-of,residence to be paid travelling : allowance, : and, : in' additiori,. onp guinea ■:■ per-diem." -' • •<"• • - , .j,Tlns r-met' with some opposition, soverill tho, chairman, was. entitled . to. no higher- payment than other members,. but Mr.. Luko pointed out that'the "of . districts; would; greatly inor^se,, the work and responsibility of the chairman;'.. " riThp''lnspector-General agreed with this view. Mr.- G, -Darton (Gisbomo) conteudcd that without 'some- such "allowance .very suitable men would bo deterred from, accepting the position of chairman,. .-' - ' " •An amendment by Mr.'E. A. Tapper (Dunedin). .to, , pay - the xhairman and all other •members of tho boards one. guinea per- day .'wheji'-jvyay fr.om/.hqraej by. ,iyay ,of- -tr'ayollihg I allpwanqo,;was. defeated/ as also was another,-.to--aJter-Mr.;'.Luke's-motion; by- substituting 10s. for ono guinea Mrj-Luke, explainod tbat at present, only sctUal; out-of-pocket ■ expenses wero - payable. Mr. Gr.. Carson (Wanganui) moved the" following tho' actual ' cost and'.' 125.',,6 d.. a.'da-y, be' paid to tbfl o^airMMya^ business TJje . m&verr declared that' honorary. service had" been ■ ffib pride, of' hospital; administration;,find should bp 'rotaihed-.--''CQNTRACTB.' -; : - - .28. of tho Bill, provides that <coriw wo: £10., shall. only. be made- after publia ( 'A-shburton' remit, - £20: was. substituted for £10 It iVaa resolved —•

.... That in tho.'.eveatvof any small proper-, ties ,coming onto 'the hands of tho Board,' 'povnor bo giyen to .sell." v ; ' .-' • , V l ®, 9k al l ri ?. ll ..stated .in reply to questions -that- funds 'denvedjfrora' sale of .endowments •.We; t iOT-special;purposes could' not, bo. put lflto' tho' general' fund,', v ; • u'rpu'' .resolved, at a. later stage.;—\ •• Si*®® to.thp b'oards/'subr 3 ect , w, tjier Minister's approval, : to soil or exchango■ any lands vestal'; ih tho boards', Pi> ! .unsuitable for. the' purposes ..'v'T,..R , ar ® intendedtho proceeds ' , j o ,' a PP'l® t l' to tho' acquisition of' .'other Janto;'or . t6\the . extension' 1 of : buildings for hospitalor l ;-charitable purposes." '. V ' ' URRANGEMBNTS! : - "It'was .feolyed:—''That boards' as well as trustees- of' separate'institutions should' be' e wl o^ r m't?:. oorrow for' certain 'purposes." /ojlowirig patea feiflitwas carried on «n©^.voic63■ 'V * \ . ~ section 37; is. .not. considered . *•' protect leaseholders from . solely.' contributing towards •' .' assessed,'.as. provision ■ '"' :!? 5 . ; P"'y .ppdO-.-'for- rccbvery from ■ owners ... i - • .V, rates levied fpr hospital.:., .purposes, by/ tho local ■ bodies, so that-' . where a separata ;ratb ■ for hospital pur- ■ poses. IB not • struck ; by; local' authorities leaseholder would be .'solely liable for .the Ml'contributionas paid:bv local' ■ ifundß without the. of recovery of "any 'por--' won' by' the owner."' -' The'. Chairman said be did not favour the striking of a direct rate by the Board, instead 'of levying; contributions- on.,the rating authorities; .If. .such. a rate was struck, tho ,he &s' inclined 'to contribute voluntarily; . . '" V " . ' $?• ■•.Stephenson Expressed the .opinion' that tnc. principle of charging, the. land only with raWs-%:charitable aid was inequitable', and: alien;, rates "should fall equally on all prop«tyr " . 1 . ffhe.question was raised to whether any special, rate for hospital and charitable aid would be levied on the capital or the unimproved value. '

The Chairman, replied that this would be according to .the'.general practice of the district;.! '' APPEALS. . .Clause 39 provides for an appeal by a local Dotly against the assessment of its contribution, such appeal: to "be. 1 made to tho Minister, and referred., by him to a commission for ; ' ~ 4 Ar em' t : ih favpur of appeali.-'.to th'o Supreme. Court,, instead of ■- the: Minister, was Josfe-on. the' voices.' LIABILITY FOR ..COST' OF' RELIEF. The Chairman; $tr'ongly recommended tho Board to, adopt, a remit, which he said had heen;- preparer!, to;.Mr, T.. C. Norris, of the Ashburton and North Canterbury .Charitable Aid: Board, a man ,who had.mado' a special of the law. on this , subject, and who had . given him. .much valuable' assistance. jApplausq). •. ./ , :Tho remit was as follows :— - "..Section 74, relating to. relief to persons.'from'beyond a Board's district, should bo'recast on-the lines of.a.su"- ' gostion -submitted to tho InspectorGeneral in October, 1907, somewhat as follows Where; any person who receives relief at tho hands of a Board or , tho'trustees of a separate institution has not at-the time or first' receiving such rolief therefrom resided for tho period of one year, in the district within which 'snch Board or trustees control the ,ad:ministratiohj'the Board or the trustees, ■as'the case may- be, nlay recovor tho wliole cost of: such' relief from ,tho trustees or the Board of'tho district in :,which: such: person last resided for ono iwholo, year: Provided that during tho 1 etimo any such person is in a hospital or mother - institution' .'or- /.-separate institution, or in receipt of outdoor relief .in

the district within which such person has'taken abode, no such person shall bo deemed to have been resident therein for the purpose of establishing settlement' within the meaning of this scc- . tion.'" -~ ' .... The resolution was carried. 1 SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS. ■ Tlw following remits were adopted with-' out discussion:— 1 ' i i" That when a separate institution is , to be :established, the promoters shall once a week for "four weeks advertise in : . some locil paper tlioir intention of mak- • . ing application to the Minister for'the i purpose," , i ' >, ' "That no separate institution should : be incorporated without 'tho sanction of the Board of • the'district- in which the . 'proposed institution will : be situated." 1 ' , ENDOWMENTS. ■ i > ■ Two-.remits recommending that'areas of Crown lands be ;set asido as endowments for hospitals and charitable aid were, abandoned as being beyond tho scope of the Conferonce. Tho!Chairman said there were coi'tain reserves that-hqd befen intended for hospitals, ■ as. the sites were found to bo .unsuitable. He ■ was trying. to scciiro - theso lands or the revenues accruing therefrom for the Hospital Boards of this districts in. which" they were situated. . APPROVAL OF BUILDING PLANS. ' Clause 21 requires' tho Boards to submit' plans of now 'buildings' or additions to the Minister- fof approval. A remit to exempt works 'riot exceeding £100 in cost was carried on tlio voices. • ■ The Hon. GV M. Luke, M.L.C. (Wellington; Hospital 'Trustees) asked that somejdis--'tinction should be made between largo:and . 'small bodies. ' >-' . Mr. L. J. Bagnall- (Auckland) suggested a limitation proportionate to .the income of the Board. 1 The Chairman' said he. would take this as a recommendation. BEQUESTS .-AND DONATIONS. The question of limiting the mode of application .of bequests and donations to special purposes,' according . to' the wishes of., the testator, was'-'discussed. , ' ' ;.Dr;- ißatcholor (Dunedin) insisted that people.'woiild give more generously for specialobjects than ,to 'general funds. v, This was the'.;case - with; the, Hospital Saturday col-! lections.'• - Tho Hon,';'C. M. -Luke, M.L:C., pointed, out that'funds collectod or. donated -for specific purposes aid not carry tlio Government'subsidy. The Chairman promised to- endeavour to have'; the Bill' altered so that subsidies • would be paid in such cases. -•-• INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS,: Mr. -.G. Payling moved: a Nprth Canterbury remit, to require, the Inspector-General to forward, .to the, boards copies of ,his' re* ports r to tho'Minister on'their, work;. • Tho Chairman said this -was unnecessary. He always--informed tho boards of anythingToquiring 'their attention.; . . ■■ .. : : ■ Mr: Harpor (Ashburton). said that this had not always been done before Dr. Valiutinc assumed office. , '- . The remit was.adopted. - STAMP DUTY.' '. Tho Conference agreed to recommend that exemption' from; stamp -duty apply to declarations,'as well as receipts given- by tho 'boards.' - . . PROBATIONERS toip Chairman asked'.'the Conference'not •.to;.. endorse- 'the Mowing .'North .Aucklandremit: —' . . '.. . r .; " ■• -

■ - -'.'That probationers in small county i ; - after tw6 ;,years' service, .:-be..i italcen on' to -theistaff-of tho. larger,ho.s-. ,- ■ pitals -in'-preference to. new., candidates', •in 'order -to qualify ■■ for ■ certificates.",.- ' ■~] He said ' that - the ' proposal' Would lead .to great confusion.. Ho , had- ,rliscus3ed question '\vith, the. boards of. the''larger ;hos-pit-ils.-,^>',Hti'ihbughl;- t-he vtrAini«g «ofi^'»roba tidnors f Tjo 1 iv ! wt.S?T systonvr -tbei'la^pfli'rl-'WS-trained ; m■: a- small - hospital •' found-'-herself ■ !i,t a disadvantage in regard to status,' if-'plae aftertvards:-'wtlitVlsay^'tp-.-a. hospital" 'in r •Australia.:; He.' .asked tho Conference 'to - let thequestion ; staiid' dyer • "pending the formulation of a scheme!.; ~. . . • . ,Mr. M... Maxtoii.- ': said.'..that.if.' the .small hospitals 'coiUd,hot take prohati.oners they would have" to more .'for services rendered)',,'. *, : : i 1 said tho contrary' would be the, case. - It, would tend .to economy, afid bffi'oiohcy .if.; only registered ."nurses. were , employed. ...- v . ' 'j; SUPERANNUATION.' ■ ; ' The ' following ' rosdlution ; was' - carried -.':That provision should;be made whereby employees_ of. tho. , Hospital'-,; and . : : Charitable, Aid Boards'; should ~be al-' ' ' Iqwed to. participate' iii tha',;benefit?'"of ' the . Civil ' -Service;. Superannuation scheme." , ; ; • POLICE CASES IN HOSPITALS., . : The- following ' Napier remit was '-strongly supported by the; . Hon: C. M. Luke, jtf;L.C. 7. . ...■, . , ' '.'That ease's sent; to the hospital by/. 1 ■ the gaol authorities or police . should ; ha-yp an ahtend'ant provided' at",the es- ; pense of the Government." " . Tho Chairman said -the Commissioner of Police had-intimated that in all' casos of delirium - tremens and attempted- suiqide a policeman rwpuld. be. sent. ■ The Hon. Jlr. , . Luke said the praotico should .extend to,, all .cases recoived from gaols,;' . Tho Chairman concurred. ■■

•Mr.,Cranby (Napier) said that his board' had made requests for the 'services of. ft, policeman- in such cases,. but the 'requests Jiiid always been declined... He also reiorred to trouble with chronic drunkards ' and re-' fractory inmates of Homes.' There, was one M;oiD«in whb had been committted.tfi gaol ,20. times, : As.; ,spou , as . 'aha ; was . released toe police Inspector applied for her''to roittcd to the Home, and when she left, the Homo she got drunk again and was put in gaol. -The>itriistees wore at a. loss to-know how they should deal with such a case. : The' motion was carried. WELLINGTON AND. WAIRARAPA DIS- ■ - TJIICT. . : In reply to Mr! Maxton (Wairarapa) the Chairman said that ho could make no announcement as'to the amalgamation: of the Wellington and Wairarapa; districts until he had consulted tho Minister. •The Otago remit to enable new districts to be'fbrmed oii petition of the ratepayers was opposed by the chairman, who said the districts- were likely to be quite small enough without giving power, to make them smaller. ; Tho remit was struck out. MISCELLANEOUS. A resolution in favour of. empowering boards to acquire land for. sites for institutions uiider the Public Works Act was carried; • ; ■■■•- -■- ■ . • ; ' The following Remits emanating froiii tho Wellington Hospital Trustees' were -carried:— : • Chairman to be elected 'on the second Wednesday in May'.' ■' j-' ■ If unable within ono liionth to appoint a chairman, the Governor to appoint.'one. Vacancies on board or committee to. bo filled by board itself as at prosent. . It was also resolved that the word "maintenance" ih regard to hospital foes should bo more oloarly defined. , ■ . : • ' ; THE CHAIRMAN. The following resolution, drawn up by a sub-committee, consisting of tho Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., and Mr. J. M'R. Callaway,' was carried unanimously:— "That this Conference places on record its lii"li appreciation of the services rendered, by the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr; Valintino, in the conduct of its business as associated with' the- consideration of tho, very complex quof;tio|io of hospital and cliaritablo aid. Wo desiro to say that his comprehensive grasp of all details connected with tho administration'.of this great Department of State has materially assisted tho Conference in the findings which wo believe. if incorporated in an Act and placed on t.lio Statute Book, will go a long way to solve many of tho difficulties that no\y; confront those who have the administration of these ..important departments. ".".We desire further to add that in our opinion the ur>

banity of manner, mingled with, that ..degrees •of firmness' displayed by the Chairman, has been conducive, materially to the success of this conference." THE SECRETARY. _ A brief statement of the decisions of tho Conference is to be supplied to',ill the boards and separata institutions... In .asking that this should be done, Mr. Callaway (Dunedin). paid a tribute to the admirable work' done by Mr. E. Killick as. secretary to tho conference.- (Applause.) Tho Chairman said that the'secretary already had such a dooument in course of preparation. • ' ■ Discussions on Government suhsidies and outdoor relief, the. honorary medical stalls of hospitals, and old-age pensioners are reported under separate headings.