HOSPITAL BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 825, 25 May 1910, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD.

BUSINESS OF COMMITTEES. NOT TO BE MADE PUBLIC. The. Hospitable and Charitablo Aid Board met yesterday afternoon, when there were present Mr. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman), Kovs. W. A. Evans and H. Van Staveren, Messrs. D. M'Laren, M.P., ,T. Godber, J. Trevor, It. C. Kirk, J. J. Devine, J. Fitzgerald,. F. T. Moore, G. London, B. R. Gardener, J. W. M'Ewen, W. Ilindmarsh, W. Tompsitt, and D. Kobertson. , 'The Hospital Department wrote approving of the appointment of Dr. Hardwick Smith as general medical superintendent. Mr. lurk stated that at the meeting of the Hospital Committee the question of the admission of the press had been considered. It was decided that tho committee had no' power to admit tho press without the sauction of tho board. Mr. Kirk moved that tho board should delegate to tho committee power to. decide whether tho press should be admitted. ilr. Van Staveren seconded tho motion pro forma. Ho thought that tho press should bo admitted to the committee's meetings. It was'right that the community should know how its money was being spent. When it was not desired that certain business should be published the press had always been good enough to withhold it* from publication. Mr. Gardener supported tho motion. It was at the committee meetings that discussions on the administration of tho hospitals would take place, .and such discussions should be public. • Mr. Trevor moved as an amendment that tho press be admitted to the fortnightly meetings of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Committees, and that the House and Finance and Charitable Committees hold their meetings in private. A Complaint, Mr. Eobcrtson, in seconding tho motion, said that evidently those members of the board who had to do with charitable aid were to have no share in the hospital work. Ho thought that these members could, save a lot of money if they were not shut out from the consideration of hospital business. The only information on hospital matters which they were likely .to get would be information through tho'press.' ~,■,: ' Mr. Godber took objection to the-' insinuations 1 ' comprised in these -remarks. It might just as well be said that the hospital members weri shut out from charitablo aid discussions. Mr. Moore supported tho amendment. Mr. Devine. was opposed to the opening of committee meetings to tho press as entirely irregular. Mr. M'Laren was opposed to both tne motion and amendment. He thought that some of the newspaper reports in Wellington and elsewhere relating to the treatment of indigent persons had been very undesirable, and that though tho names of applicants for assistance were not published, their identity was often ascertainable from the reports. Mr. Kirk's motion was altered to read as follows :-"That statistical information bo given to the press by both the Charitable Aid and Hospital Committees. After further discussion the amendment was lost by 9 votes to 7. Mr. Mooro then moved as a further amendmcut: "That no information whatever be given to the press-by committees." Either'the press should be allowed to be present or all information should be w-ithheld. • ' ' , The chairman ruled out the amendment as being a direct negative. ' ' , Mr Kirk's motion was lost on the chairman's vote, Mr. Aitken explaining that this meant that no information would be given to tho press in regard to committee meetings. Mr. Moore: Then.may I ask what penalty will bo put on mo if I choose to give information? lam only responsible to my constituents as to what I'do. • The chairman: It would be a very dishonourable thing for anyone to give information. . Hospitals Committee's Report. The Wellington Hos'pitaV Committee, reported"''that Mr: K.'C. Kirk had been elected as 'its chairman. A House and Finance Committee had been appointed, consisting of-Messrs. Kirk, (chairman), Baldwin, London, Trevor, and the Jicv. H. Van Staveren. Messrs. Irevor and Godber were elected to represent tho 'Hospital Committee on the Finance Committee of the board. A committee to control the Otaki Hospital and Sana'torium was appointed, ' consisting ot Messrs. Gardener, ■ Godber, Hindmarsh, Moore, and Tompsitt of whom Mr.■ fompsitt was' appointed chairman. Ihis committee would visit tho Otaki institutions monthly and had already had its first meeting there. Dr. H. Hardwick Smith had assumed his duties as medical'superintendent of all.the institutions under control of tho board and had paid two visits to the Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium, and one to the Ohiro Home Later on he would submit any special recommendations he might have to make The House and Finance Committee would meet fortnightly at the hospital to deal with-accounts and urgent business, and the Hospital Committee as a whole would meet fortnightly also—once monthly at the hospital and once in the city in the evening. A sub-committee had been appointed to meet a sub-committee of the Charitable Aid Committee to consider the question of supplies, and a sub-committee had been appointed to deal with tho question of lighting the hospital in future. A request from the Petone Ambulance Committee for financial assistance for purchasing an ambulance van for Petono had been referred to a sub-committee comprising Messrs. Baldwin, London, and Kirk. Tim following iecommendations wero submitted:—That the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board grant the Hospital Committee definite powers, and directions for admitting press and publishing statistical information. That all members of the board may sign in-patients' tickets, the secretary to sign urgent cases. That a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs. T. C. Williams for promise of donation. That tenders be called for the erection of a balcony and verandah at the Victoria Home. That Sister Evans be granted leave oi absence, and that Sister E. Beck's, resignation bo received with rceret. -That no salary, except under special circumstances, shall be paid nurses when absent, other than when on sick le'avo or holidays. That maintenance accounts amounting to ,£622 10s. lOd. ho written off. That Mr. J. O'Leary's services as collector be retained for > a further period of four weeks. The report was adopted. General Secretary to Be Appointed. It was recommended by the policy committee that a general secretary be appointed at .£350 a year, and that applications be called for that position. The duties of such officer would be such as would devolve upon the chief cxecutivo officer of the board, with full responsibility for the efficient performance of their duties by all the officers, other than professional ones. Mr. London moved as an amendment, that a secretary should be appointed at .£3OO a year, who should be the principal officer of the board. Mr. Trevor seconded tho amendment. The amendment was rejected and the report adopted. Finances.The financial statement showed the following balances in hand: —Gentral account, ,£3247 9s. 7d.; No. 1 imprest account, ,£l2 19s. 5d.; No. 2 .imprest account (Otaki), .£2l 9s. 6d.; Wellington •Hospital Trustees account, .£1096 2s. 9d. Wellington Benevolent . Trustees account, .£385 3s. Si. Total, .£4763 4s. lid. It was agreed, on Mr. M'Laren's motion: "That the policy committee report on the advisability of establishing a policy that persons in receipt of a minimum scale of earnings shall ho exempt from charges for services received as inpatients of the hospital.