CARE OF INCURABLES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 13

CARE OF INCURABLES.

DISCUSSION BY CHARITABLE AID BOARD. POSSIBLE LEGISLATION. A meeting of tho Wellington and Wairarapa Charitablo Aid Board was held yesterday to consider tho estimates for tho coming year and to decide upon tile apportionment to bo paid by tho contributing local authorities. Tliero wore present Messrs. R. C. Kirk (in tho chair), W. H. Jlorrah, l'\ Cohen. T. Hodgins, M. Murdoch, and tho Hon. A. W. Hogg. Tho annual financial statement showed that the receipts up to January 31, 1909, amounted to £11,795 18s. 9d., and tho expenditure to £9497 13s. 3d. The assets exceeded liabilities by £1500. The proposed apportionment was as follows :— Last year 1908-09. 1909-10. Total. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. Wellington City Council ... 2,074 9 0 2,606 15 0 Horowhenua County Council ... 314 16 8 419 8 1 Hutt County Council ' 187 14 0 234 2 0 Makara County Council ... 92 14 0 110 0 0 Mttsterton. County Council ... 306 15 8 362 16 0 Fcatherston Coun- , ty Council ... 299 19 0 • 355 18 0 Pahiatua County Council ... 216 13 4 256 11 0 Wairarapa South County Council 190 3 0 225 3 0 Akitio County Council ... 92 7 0 109 9 0 Castlepoint County Council ... 75 0 '4' 88 10 0 Eketahuna County Council ... 60 12 4 105 0 0 Maurieeville County Council ... 52 1 0 61 15 0 Lower Hutt Bor- . ough Council ... 177 8 4 216 6 0 Petono Borough Council ... 147 2 0 180 8 0 Miramar Borough Council ... 49 7 8 117 16 0 Karori Borough Council ... 79 12 8 79 10 0 Onslow' Borough Council ... 35 3 0 63 14 0 Eastbourne Borough Council ... 20 11 8 25 1 0 Levin Borough ' Council ... 26 11 0 33 15 0 Masterton Borough ' Council ' ... 127 ; 17 0 ' 160 14 0 Carterton Borough Council ... 22 9 0 37 4 0 Greytown Borough Council ... 18 4 0 21 10 0 Pahiatua Borough Council ... 25 8 0 30 19 0 I Eketahuna Borough Council ... 18 2 4 22 7 0 | JoTinsonvillo Town Board , ... 17 19 8 23 0 0 I Upper Hutt Town Board — 29 2 0 Martinborough Town Board ... 12 17 4 13 10 0 Feathcrston Town Board ... 8 10. 917 0 . £4750 0 0 £6000 0 0 Tho estimates showed an increase of £2300 over last year's total. Discussion on tho point as to whether the Hospital Board or the Charitable Aid Board should bo responsible for the maintenance of tho Victoria Homo for Incurables was resumed. The amount'on the estimates for this purpose was £1800. Tho chairman gave a detailed explanation of the position, and he quoted from tho Inspector-General's report to Parliament last year, wherein hestates that in his (the Inspector-General's) opinion, chronic hospitals should be maintained alongside old people's homes. _ The report mentioned several hospitals in New Zealand which are partly filled by old people year in and year out. These, he considered, should 'bo in homes with • one trained nurso for general supervision, instead of in the general hospitals. Mr. Kirk said that if tho board agreed to pay this £1800, the Victoria Homo for Incurables would be in the same .position as, the Ohiro Home, both being supported by this board, but managed by separate bodies; but if tho board were to delegate the sole control of the Victoria Home to tho Benevolent Trustees, then tho Charitablo, Aid Board would be called upon to pay off tho buildings, land, and everything else. Tho Hospital Trustees, in return for their proportion of the patients in tho home, and not a charge upon charitable aid, would be prepared to keep tho buildings maintained and provide medical attendance.

Mr., Hogg said it was a question if the trustees .were to be allowed to shift a large swag from their own shoulders on to thoso of the country taxpayers. He was sur-, prised when the item, £1800, and particulars concerning tho Victoria Hospital appeared ou the estimates. It involved an additional contribution of 25 per cent, by tho local bodies. He was strongly in favour of providing for tho ailing, but the two institutions, the Ohiro Home and Victoria Home, should be kept separate, and it was not fair to ask tho country ratepayers, who had a hard struggle as it was at present,, to contribute to what was a' city institution. They were told that of 40 cases in tho institution, only three came from the Wairarapa. Tho country representatives had not been consulted in this matter. Mr. Cohen said that it was not fair of Mr. Hogg to make any allegation against the board for not consulting the country members'. The board met once a month, and notices of meetings were sent to every meniber, and this was the first meeting, sinco the new board was elected on November ], that any country members had attended, and, further, it was their own fault'if they were not in touch with what the board had been doing. Notices of all meetings had been sent to outside members. Mr. Hodgins said that to attend this meeting he was losing four days, and therefore some allowance should be made for thoir absences. He supported Mr. Hogg's objections, although ho admitted tho inconvenience of altering the estimates. Tho chairman said this wa'S. a charitable aid matter, and the Wairarapa had to contribute. In the future, that district Would pay nothing for individual patients they, sent down. The difference tho Wairarapa would have to pay would be £300, and as they already paid £200, their net loss would ouly be £100. Probably more cjses would be sent down. Mr. Hogg: No room for them. We have tried before. Tho chairman: If it was the other way about, would you not givo preference to local patients? It was wrong for Mr. Hogg to suggest that city men acted for the interests of the city only. He objected to an insinuation that he as chairman, when deputed to interview the trustees, did not represent tho other portions of the district. Mr. Hogg explained that he intended cc insinuation. Tho only thing Wairarapa people could do was to start an opposition establishment. The chairman formally moved tho adoption of the estimates. Mr. Cohen seconded. As an amendment, Mr._ Hogg moved:— "That in tho opinion of this board, tho maintonanco of hospital patients, whether curable or incurable, docs not come withih the scope of charitablo aid, and the estimates therefore should be amended by the elimination of tho sum of £1800." The amendment was lost by 4 to 2, and tho motion was carried. Mr. Hodgins mentioned that ho would see whether tho local bodies interested could upset the estimates. Mr. Hogg said tho question should receive every attention by the local bodies, and he thought it would lead to fresh legislation ojL the question. , Ho added that every consideration had been given country members by their city brethren.