H. AND C.A. BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 25 June 1888, Page 2

H. AND C.A. BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held on Saturday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. Ward (chair), G. Henderson, G. W. Riley, R. M'Artney, E. Paul, W. B. Parker, Rev Father Lewis, Rev W. O. Robb and Rev G. F. Grace.

CORRESPONDENCE. From Picton H. and C.A. Board, forwarding the following resolution passed at last meeting, “ Proposed by C. H. Mills and seconded by Mr G. Rutland, That the Secretary write to the Wairau Hospital Board, asking if they will consent to meet the Picton H. and C.A. Board on their next meeting day to discuss matters of general interest to those who contribute to both Hospital Boards.” From H. Dodson, Esq, M.H.R. enclosing copy of correspondence received by him from Pelorus Road Board, Havelock Town Board, and from the Chairman of a public meeting held at Havelock, urging that the districts of Havelock and Pelorus be severed from the Hospital District of Picton, and be attached to tho Wairau

Hospital and Charitable Aid District. Mr Dodson wished to know if the question had come before tho Board, and, if so,

what decision the Board had come to on the subject. The following petition in conneotion with the subject was also read : “Sir, —We, the undersigned members of the Picton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Pelorus Road Board District, and the Havelock Town Board, desire to call your attention to the necessity which exists, either for a rectification of tho boundaries of the Hospital Districts of Marlborough or their union under one Board. A glance at a map giving ths distribution of population and tho means of communication will make it appear at once that neither of those elements were taken into consideration when Marlborough, with its small population, was divided into the present districts, the fact being that the Wairau Hospital is more w accessible than the Picton Hospital to M more than two-thirds of those living in the Picton District, and that as the general public have more confidence in tho amount and quality of medical skill to be had in the chief centre of population, the Picton Hospital is practically use’ess to the large majority of those who contribute to support it, and the expenditure of moneys from local aud colorial funds is out of all proportiou to any results obtained from it. “ We therefore respectfr’ly ask that a ( jmmittee of enquiry should bo held with a view to such legislation as may be necessary to insure that economy and efficiency whioh we feel certain would result from uniting Marlborough into a single hospital district ; or that at least such an alteration in the boundaries should be made as would give the ratepayers and residents of the Peloru3 Road District the part of the Wairau Road District north of the Wairau River, and a portion of the Pelorus Sound the power of uniting for the pui poses of the Hospital and Charitablo Aid Act with the Wairau District, which would have been done in the first ease had the local bodies been consulted in the framing of the schedule to the Act, the' old electoral district of Picton having been taken as a hospital district without any regard to those circumstances to which the first cocsideration should have been given, “We desire to also call your attention to the fact that the portion of the County of Sounds belonging to the Nelson Poor District is not included within the boundaries of any hospital district, and that the part of the Wairau Road District north of the Wairau River has been hitherto mistakenly supposed to belong to the Wairau Hospital District (as it certainly should have done if ordinary care had been exercised in bringing the Hospital Act into force io Marlborough); and

tnat while it is incumbent on the Pioton

, Board to levy a rate on it there is no provision for the representation of the ’ratepayers.”

DISPUTED BEBPONSIBIMTY. Before considering above busines', the Secretary intimated that the man Cooke, •whom neither Wairau nor Picton Boards would acknowledge as being responsible for maintaining, was in attendance, and wished to interview the Board. It will be remembered that Cooke had hitherto been provided for by the Picton Board, but as the patient had resided in Wairau district for the past six months the Picton Board therefore contended that the Wairau Board was responsible for his maintenance. The Wairau Board, however, at its last meeting denied any w' -responsibility, and the consequence was that the man had “ fallen between two •tools',” although it was admitted that he was a deserving object of charity. Mr Riley : The Board has taken up a position in the matter ? The Chairman: Yes. Mr : In that case, wo have nothing to consider. The Secretary pointed ont that the man was now the Wairau district, and had been for some time. The Chairman said Cdoke had no further to go to Picton than to Blenheim. It was, however, very hard that the man should be bandied about from one Board to tho other. He (the Chairman) would be inc’ined to give relief and then make a claim on tho Picton Board He thought tho members of Parliament should also bo made aware of the facts of the case with a view to the law being amended to meet such cases. The Secretary explained that the Picton Board formerly allowed LI per month, and Mr Humber was willing to accept that sum for his maintenance. Mr Henderson said that legal steps would have to be taken. In the meantime the man must be relieved, and he moved that LI per month bo allowed Cooke, and that the Picton Board be notified that a claim w' : ’ be made upon them for the amount. In reply to Mr Paul, who said the case was a hard one, it was stated that in event of the Picton Board declining to pay the amount, the Wairau Board would have to take tho case to court, and Mr Henderson j remarked that then if the Wairau could I not recover, the result would show that it | was liable for the man’s support, and the Board would then he in no worse position than at present. Mr Riley did not object to the payment of LI per month so long as it did not prejudice the Board’s position. Still, he believed the man was worth his keep, and ho did not think the Board would have to maintain him for long. The motion was carried. AMALOi I HATION

The correspondence re amalgamation was then considered.

The Chairman explained that ho had been waited upon by two members of the Picton Board, and he advised them that the matter was one for Parliament to deal ■with. It was mo use having a conference on the Bubject, aa they might discuss the question for half a day and no practical issue result. It was a matter of incoherence to the Wairau Board whether or not amalgamation took place. Still, if amalgamation would be of general benefit the Board should suppoii; it. People in the Polorui district could reach Blenheim much easier than Picton. Mr Parker remarked that Picton opposed amalgamation on the ground that it would thereby lose its doctor and hospital.

The Chairman said he would like to do what was best for the public at large. The Chairman further remarked that Mr Dodson merely wished to know what the Board had to say on the subject, and he (the Chairman) had called the special meeting to give a reply. Mr Hendorson : Then the question for us to consider is : A-e we in favor of the petition ? In reply to a question, the Chairman said he did not think amalgamation would add to the cost of the Wairau district.

Mr Parker thought that the two districts could be Arorked much cheaper if amalgamated. As far as he could gather, it cost about L-l per week to maintain two patients in tho Picton Hospital. Mr Henderson said no doubt people in the Pelorus district found it much more convenient to come to Blenheim. Still, amalgamation was a matter of indifference to the Wairau district, but if it were the desire of the residents the Board should not oppose it. He moved, That this Board has no objection to any alteration in the boundaries of the Picton H. and C. A. district that settlers may find suitable to tho ratepayers of the district themselves. Mr Parker ceconded.

Mr Riley thought the Board should be cautious before expressing an opinion on the subject. 110 would like to know the financial position of the Picton Board before agreeing to amalgamation. Why were tie Pelorus people so anxious for amalgamation? He thought there were other reasons besides economy and difficulty of access to Picton. If part of the Picton district were taken away it meant that the district could not carry on. He would be inclined to carry on as they were doing at present. The Chairman believed that it would be better and cheaper for the district as a whole if tho amalgamation took place. The motion was then put, and carried. GENERAL. The Rev H. Bull was elected a member of the Board in place of the Rev Mr Crump, resigned, he having left the district. It was decided that the next meeting of tho Board take place on tho 10th July