HOSPITAL BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15333, 16 June 1910, Page 10

HOSPITAL BOARD.

A mooting of tho North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday; present—Messrs F. Horrcll (chairman), T. D. Boag, AV. AV. Tanner, H. B. Sorensen, It. Moore, AA r . P. Spencer, C. Allison, O. F. Clothier, j. AVolfo, J. M. Murray, E. 0. Palmer, D. M’Millan, J. H. Davison and J. Henderson. Rev AV. J. L. Closs, Mesdames A\ r . Ensom, J. H. Wilson and E. AV. Cunnington. The chairman said that during tho present year the Board to make levies on local bodies for £7OOO for expenditure on buildings of a permanent character, and it was a question whether the Board should not adopt a larger scheme, and, instead of ’•aising the money bv direct levies upon, contributing bodies, raise a loan to provide for its building programme, and by providing a sinking fund distribute the burden of expenditure over a period more nearly approximate to the period of usefulness of the. buildings. The committee appointed to revise the Board’s by-laws had made considerable progress, and he expected that thoso relating to the Hospital would he completed by the. following meeting, and a special meeting of the Board would then ho called to consider the committee’s proposals. Air Gloss proposed a motion of which he had given notice, that a committee should bo appointed to take into consideration tho general policy of the Board with regard to the Hospital institutions and to charitable relief. When tho reconstituted Board assumed office, tho Inspector-General of Hospitals had suggested that such a committee should he set up, and it appeared to him that tho time had come when that suggestion should bo given effect to. The present system was apparently quito haphazard. The motion was seconded by Mrs Cunnington. Air Moore said the Board would havo to be particularly careful to avoid overlapping of the work of existing committees and the duties of the proposed committee.

Air Allison said ho could not approve of tho motion, for it was a direct slight upon the existing committees. Tho Board had not displayed any policy whatever, and it had rejected the policy framed by one of its committees for its own guidance. It would be much bettor for the Board to continue as at'present. Air Tanner said the Board should endeavour to secure uniformity of methods and action among tho Boards of-the dominion, particularly with regard to charitable rolief. Mr Sorenson thought there was no need for a special committee. A policy might be outlined by the Finance Committee. Airs Cunnington said that there were several questions of policy that should bo determined. There wero a number of institutions splendidly conducted by religious denominations for women, and tho Board should decide whother advantage should be taken of these institutions. The matter of providing for tho maintenance of indigent widows, in order that they might Taring up their children without having to earn their living, the question of dealing with unemployables and that of giving attention to children after their discharge from the Waltham Orphanage, would also have to be considered. Air Closs said that at present tho Board dealt with ' business as it was placed before it, without giving consideration to tho largor questions which were affected. Already the work of the Board was overlapping that of other organisations, and the members, of the Board could not consider that they were doing their duty to tho public unless they considered their responsibilities. Tho motion was carried hv ton votes to seven, and on tho motion of Air Closs tho following committee was appointed:— Alessrs Horrcll, Davison. Sorensen, Tanner, Hall, Closs and Airs AVilsoh. . ’ Tho Hospital Committee recommended a scale of payment for tho foyr-ycar period for new entrants for nursing as follows: —First year £l2, second £2(l, third £SO, fourth £55, in lion of the present scale of £l2, £25 and £52. Tho matron had suggested that candidates for probation might servo a short preliminary period in the Jubilee Homo, where additional assistance was required, and tho committee recommended that this should he carried out. The report was adopted. Mr C. Cook was present when the Board resumed after the luncheon adjournment. Dr O. J. Blackmore, resident medical officer at the Cashmere Consumption Sanatorium, reported that during Mav four men end two women had been admitted, and there wero sixteen, men and eight women in residence on May 31. Tho ongine required for the water supply had boon installed, and there was now a plentiful supply of water. Tho re nor t was adopted. The Chief Health Officer, Dr Ara)intine. wroto advising the Board to carry nut a suggestion that had been made that Dr Blackmore should be asked to furnish a report as to the mode of dealing with cases of consumption, taking into consideration not only the euro, hut the prevention of tho disease, and especially in tho direction of encouraging early cases of tho disease to seek treatment. The treasurer’s statement for the oeriod from Alay 21 to June 11 showed that tho receipts had amounted to £5033 Ss l.Od. Tho expenditure had amounted to £1626 11s Bd.