CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Charitable Aidßo-ard was held on Wednesday ;present — Mr F. Board (chairman), Mrs Black and Messrs Acton-Adams, Sydney Harris, Hugo Friedlander, Wallace, J. T. Smith and H. B. Sorensen. Apologies were received from Messrs C. J. Ha-rpsrrDobson, Western* -and Witty, to all of whom leave of absence was granted. The Chairman informed the Board- that ml interview with the Chief Health Officer of the colony had resulted in the removal to the hospital of the unfortunate patient, whose case was brought so prominently under notice -a few weeks ago; He had since received a letter from Dr -Mason asking for information as to chronic and incurable cases which might be more suitably treated in an institution for such a purpose, instead of remaining in private houses. He ventured to repeat the hope that -the Government might be enabled to give effect to some such proposal as he had embodied in his remarks to the Board at the annual meeting in December, a -copy of which he was forwarding to Dr 'Mason for his information. Mr Acton-Adams had signified his intention of resigning his seat on, the Board, from- that day, and the Board would, therefore take steps to fill the vacancy until the next annual election by the contributory local authorities. The Institutions' Committee had the Female Refuge finances under consideration, and proposed to deal -with the whole question of the existing relations between the Board and the St- Saviour’s Guild, at the next meeting when the -annual estimates -would be brought down. It would prove more convenient to- hold the Board’s March' meeting on the 20th instead of the 13th, as the extra week would afford more time for the several committees to prepare the business of the estimates in detail. Dr Mason's letter on the question of chronic and incurable cases was read. The Chairman read the remarks he had made at the annual meeting on the subject of chronic and incurable cases and -their treatment in -a proper institution, instead -of inprivate houses. 'Mr Sorensen instanced.a case that had come under his notice, which ought certainly to he treated in such an institution. If the Hospital had not proper accommodation it ought to. Mr Acton-Adams pointed out that the Hospital Board had no funds wherewith to ■build wards, and' the last one was mainly built, from funds supplied by the Hyman Marks legacy. He did not see how the return asked for by Dr Mason could be filled up, as neither Hospital Board nor Charitable Aid Board could supply information as to the number and character of such cases as were being dealt with outsiSe the jurisdiction of these Boards. The Hospital Board would supply such information as -the Resident Surgeon could provide, and he took it that this Board would do the same. -He thought that the two Boards could work amicably -together. Mr Friedhinde-r and Mr Smith urged the establishment of an Institution ■ for chronic and incurable cases-, and on the motion of the former, if was decided to supply Dr Mason with the information he asked for as far a .s possible) and express an opinion in favour of such an institution. A letter was read from.Dr Orobke, house surgeon at the Hospital, on the subject of • the death of Miss Loader at tire- Samaritan Home., The letter traversed all the ground tEat has already been.gone over in the Press, and atftb'e meeting of, the 'Hospital Board. Mr Smith moved that the letter - should be received, and Mr Wallace, in seconding the motioiij criticised the action of some members o|'the IB oaf dun this’matkeri ’-Mr Wallace thought all the cases under this Board should be attended to by the Hospital medical men, and be would give notice of motion to dispense with the services of the Charitable Aid medical officer at three months' 'notice, ■ ■ ■ ■ Mr Hams th&'inotaon A ..aintii aJaj

favoured Mr Wallace’s proposal a« to the Hospital medical staff taking charge of the Board’s cases. '

Ultimately the motion was carried, with an addition to accept the doctor’s explanation .

The Hospital Board wrote taking exception to the remarks made at last meeting by Mr J. T. Smith, and asking the Board to explain. A clipping from a newspaper purporting to be the speech of Mr Smith in' criticism’ of the Hospital was forwarded with the.letter. ; '

Mr Friedlander said the Board was.not responsible for the remarks made-’- hy' private members -at the Boards meetings, • and moved to decline to give an explanation. If the Hospital Board members were aggrieved, they -had their remedy against Mr Smith.

Mr Smith had no desire to shield himself behind a resolution- of that or any other Board. He spoke at length on the subject of the remarks he had made, and repeated them with even greater force. -, His chief contention was that the Hospital was conducted on the principle of attending to those patients who were able to pay, and neglecting those who Were too poor to pay. Mr Acton-Adams said that Mr Smith’s facts were not accurate, and if ho were to attempt to reply to them, he would occupy half-an-hour of the Board’s time. Mr Smith represented no.great body of public opinion. If he did, he (Mr Adams), as Chairman of the Hospital Board, would have defended that body against Mr Smith’s attacks, which were certainly undeserved. The Chairman said that it had often been made apparent to him that the medical officers had the greatest difficulty in getting cases into the Hospital, and he gave instances. , ■

Mr Acton-Adams said he was astonished to hear this, as no report of that land had ever been made to him.. He had certainly been away for six weeks, arid friction might have arisen during that time, but be could assure the Board that the Hospital would never refuse a case requiring treatment for any reason that was not a proper one. Sir Friedlander said he had been Chairman of the Ashburton Hospital for a lengthened period, and Ilia experience was that reports and rumours as to .refusing patients always required close enquiry, and were usually found to be largely exaggerated. Ho though when a medical man in charge *o! a patient for whom the Board was - in any way responsible, was refused admission to the Hospital for such patient, the matter should be reported in full to the Charitable Aid Board. , Mr Friedlander’s suggestion was adopted, as was the motion moved by him, that the Board regretted it was not able to give the explanation , asked ' for by the Hospital Board. 1 The resignation of Mr Acton-Adams was accepted with regret, and- the usual steps were ordered to J>e taken to fill the vacancy. The Charitable Aid Cpmmittee reported that it had considered the subject of the- letter received from the Children’s Aid Society, but was unable to point out any method by which an administrative body such as the Board could exercise any interference with the rights of parents and guardians, to control children under their care, notwithstanding that the conduct and character of such children might not be exemplary-. While admitting the desirableness of improvement in the training of many children whose parents were being assisted, but of public funds to maintain them, the committee was not prepared to offer suggestions, as it considered that such work could: only be embraced- within the scope of legislative enactment. - In all cases in which the Board' was required to place young children in the care of private persons for payment, every endeavour was made to obtain good homes with persons of approved character, and not dependent on public charity. . The report was adopted. t The Treasurer reported thfii following receipts:—County Councils—Akaroa, £24 15s lid ; Amuri, £ll 16s lid ; Ashburton, £73 Os lOd ; Cheviot, £2l Os 6d ; Seiwyn, £123 8s 2d. Road Boards —Eyvet-on, £24 2s 4d ;. Mandeyille and Rangiora, £22 11s; West Eyreton, £lO 16s lOd; Ashley, £5 9s 3d. Borough Councils—Ashburton, £l2 4s 4d; Christchurch, £63 8s; Kaiapoi, £9 6s 6d ;[ Linwood, £8 7s 6d; Lyttelton, £25; St Albans, £23 Is; Sydenham, £l3 8s 5<L Bents and refunds, £77 11s lOd; Twigger Trusts. £176 9s 6d; Eaton account, £3l. The Board adjourned till the tlrirdyWedneidav in Much. -