DESTITUTE CONSUMPTIVES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 2

DESTITUTE CONSUMPTIVES.

WHO SHOULD PAY? At the meeting of the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board yesterday a' case concerning the treatment ot two; destitute consumptives, and the' payment for such treatment came up 'for consideration. The patients, who ■ were quite destitute ,of means, were sent' to the Otaki Sanatorium by the Wairarapa South County Council, .who Raid tho fees, but when the city , rendered its 1 account' to the Charitable Aid | Board it vpas found that the moneys so paid to. the Sanatorium were being charged to the .Board. The item was challenged,' and the secretary \i'as instructed to write to the Council stating tjiat the Board could, not pay the account in Question. ■ In reply, the following letter ; was received from tho Wairarapa' South County Council ' "Dear Sir;—l am in receipt of, your letter of 27th ult., advising that yonr' Board cannot* pay the accounts for main- : - , tenance of the patients' at Otaki - Sanatorium.' I am. directed to point out' that in both these instances the patients aro destitute, and are proper, subjects for the Charitable Aid Board to deal with ; they would have' to be supported by the Institution in any case, and as it was deemed necessary to send them to the ' Sanatorium in the hope that they would be improved in, health sufficiently to earn their own' living, and so cease to ue a burden upon the funds of the Charitable. Aid Board, my Council is of tho opinion ■ that your Board should certainly pay tlieso accounts. This Council, when sending the patients to the Sanatorium, acted in good faith as the agents of your . Board, and fully expected the liability to'. be recognised. " Yours faithfully, . "H. H. WOLTERS," " " County Clerk." ~ The Board decided that it was a matter for the Wairarapa Hospital Board to deal with, and the secretary was instructed to write stating that the Charitable 'Aid Board would refer thfe matter to the Inspector-General (Dr. Valintino). ... ,