ISOLATED WARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 216, 18 September 1901, Page 3

ISOLATED WARD.

" THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE.” COUNCILLORS AND HOSPITAL TRUSTEES. At the meeting of the Borough' Council last night, a letter was read from Mr T. A. Coleman, Secretary of the Hospital Trustees, conveying the resolution of the Trustees, refusing the application of the Council for the Trustees to allow an isolated ward to be erected in the Hospital grounds. The Mayor :No reason given. It did, he said, appear very singular that an institution like the Hospital should have such a large area of land, and vg£ refuse to allow this ward to be erected. It would be very expensive to have two Hospitals in Gisborne. They might allow one of the Borough cottages to be used ; it would not be a great expense. In earlier yc-ars, the Hospital Trustees had thought it came within their province to make provision for infectious cases, but now no facilities were offered to them. Cr Lysnar said they should not too readily accept the decision of the trustees as final. There was not only the question of nursing and maintenance to consider, but by the trustees taking the matter in hand the Government subsidy was assured. They should repeat the application. It was not right for them to shelve the matter in the manner that they had done. The Council could guarantee that the trustees would be put to no expense. The

hospital grounds were the proper place, and there was ample ground there. He could not express an opinion as to whether or not it would he safe to have the infectious cases there ; that was a point on which they might question the Health Officer. From the remarks of tho trustees it would seem that the hospital was being run for tho benefit of the nurses and not for the town. Tito Mayor : I don't think that

Cr Lysnar: That is practically what they say; that the work will come on the nurses.

I Cr Jones said that the question was otto on which ho would like to say a lot of things, but it would do no good, and ho ] would leave much unsaid. It would be I better to again approach tho Trustees. They had eight acres of land there, and it was the most suitable place on which to erect the ward. The Council might go so far us to guarantee that the Trustees would not be put to auv expense. It was absolutely necessary thnt some provision should he made for such a ward. The objection to the Mayor's suggestion was that the cottage would not be sufficiently isolated, and children might go playing about it. He understood that there was iikely to be a destructor erected at the Hospital ground, and in that ease it would save the conveying of stuff for a distance if the ward was near thereto. They required tho doctor’s attention, and also tho advice of the Matron ; not that that lady should go into tiro ward. He moved that tho Trustees be asked to reconsider the matter. Cr Lysnar seconded the motion.

Cr Bright said ho could not understand why the Trustees should discriminate between special cases of sickness. They were there for tho proper disbursement of tho funds of tho public subscribed for the relief of sickness. That being so tbo Hospital grounds were the proper plaeo for such a ward. All tho Trustees had to do to obtain funds was to make a requisition on the local bodies. They might as well say that tho Hospital would only take in men with broken arms, not those with broken legs. He opposed any borough funds being spent for building or equipping any place for tho purpose named. It would bo better to approach tho Trustees again, and if they refused, simply do nothing, and wait for a case to occur.

Cr Hepburn : Bundlo them up there ? Cr Bright: Yes. Cr Jones : But what about the poor unfortunate patient ? Cr Morrison supported the motion. Ho said that they had approached tho Trustees in a fair way. They should bo in a position to demand that tho Trustees erect the ward. The Trustees were using public money the same as the Council. Tho Council had not been met in 'a very gracious manner. There were seven acres of land at tho Hospital, which was for relieving tho sick, and had only to make a demand when thoy would get the money necessary. When approached thoy talked about the thin end of the wedge. He agreed with Cr Jones that it would not be wise to make use of one of tho Borough cottages. They might erect it on the blind road near tho Hospital. Cr Hepburn said that the ground belonged to the public, who contributed to tho carrying on of the institution. He could not understand tho Trustees talking in the way they did about the thin end of the wedge. They seemed to think that their duty was to look after the nurses. Probably if they applied again there would be a different result, as the resolution was only carried by one vote. Cr Lysnar said he thought the Hospital affairs required readjusting. Cr Jfiller said he did not think the reply justified the harsh words used. He thought the Trustees were like themsolves, and did not clearly understand the position. He objected to a penny being spent on the building, and thought that anything spent should bo through tho Charitable Aid Board, by which all would contribute fairly. Cr Hepburn said the Trustees wore ready enough to take a building away when it was put up. “After some remarks as to responsibility, Cr Jones quoted from the Act to show that the Council, as tho local health authority, had a duty in the matter ; they could be compelled to provide such a hospital. A Government subsidy would bo given on the cost s of erection. Cr Harding: Where do tho Trustees come in ? They cannot take in infectious cases.

Cr Jones: They are not asked to. All that is asked is that they allow a place for the ward to bo erected. The motion was carried,