WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 92, 21 April 1914, Page 3

WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the "Wairau Hospital" and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs J. J. Corry (chairman,) S. M. Neville, A. Weaver, C. Nees, J. G.. Armstrong, R, McArtney, H. Cheesman, li. J. Bell.

CHILDREN'S TEETH

The secretary presented a report of the conference' of representatives of the Hospital and Education Boards and the Dental Association on the proposal to set up a system for the inspection and treatment of children's teeth. The report was adopted. The Chairman explained tha,t at the conference the Dental Association.'s generous offer to give attention free of charge to the teeth of all the children attending the public schools of the hospital district was accepted by the Board's representatives, on the understanding that any cases in which it was necessary to incur expense (in the use of material for stopping iteeth, for instance) would, if the question of payment arose, be referred to the Charitable Aid Committee for determination as to whether the Board should accept liability. The arrangement was in the nature of an experiment, and would extend over three months.

Messrs Cheesman, Armstrong, Nees, and [Neville were re-appointed as the Charitable Aid Committee.

CONSUMPTIVES

In connection with the Charitable., Aid Committee's report, the chair- j man mentioned the case oi: a consumptive for whom admission to the Cashmere Hills sanatorium was sought. The North Canterbury Hospital Board replied to the effect that there no accommodation was available, but it would provide for cases from (this district if the Wairau Board would bear the expense of erecting the necessary shelter annexes. Incurables, _ however, would not be kept in the institution. The opinion was expressed that it would be to the interests of the Board to establish shelter annexes at Cashmere and send consumptives there rather than maintain a local system of treatment. The difficulty was as to the incurables. On the motion of the chairman, the Visiting Committee was asked to make a special report on the question. MASSAGING. In accordance with notice, the chairman moved thate Mrs Evatt be appointed massuese at the hospital at a salary of £2 per week, the term of appointment to be for four months, and the duties of the posiI tion to consist of the treatment of all cases in which her services were required by the medical superintendent, and the instruction of the nursing staff in massaging. The m/otion was discussed after Dr. J. F. Bennett, medical superintendent, had, at the request of the chairman, addressed the Board, and after consideration of a report in which it was stated ithat 15 patients were massaged by Mrs Evatt at the hospital since last meeting, when the question of an appointment was tentatively discussed. "Splints were .as dead as Julius Cresar," said Dr. Bennett. He recommended the Board to adopt the massaging principle, and have the nurses instructed in the art. .

Mr Neville opposed the motion. He thought .that a hospital of this size should await the lead of larger institutions. . .

Mr Nees also was an. opp.enent. He .would sooner see the salaries of the medical staff proper increased than a: new salary created. . ■ . . The motion was .carried. HAVELOCK.

Mr. J. Johnston, Sanitary Inspector, submitted tradesmen's prices for the work of installing a septic tank and drainage system for the Havelock Cottage Hospital. The lowest tenders were accepted —those of Messrs Mclndoe and Sim £45, for the septic stank and drainage work, and Mr A. Reade, £7, for an outbuilding. THE SECRETARY'S SALARY. The Chairman moved that, in, view of the extra work and responsibility devolving on 'him, the salary of the secretary (Mr A. J. Maclaine) be increased from £100 to £150 per annum. It was stated that the present salary was among the lowest of the salaries paid to Hospital Board secretaries in New. Zealand. The In-I spector-General had drawn attention to it. The motion was seconded by Mr Weaver and carried. GENERAL. The resignation <of Miss Mary O'Connor, nurse, was accepted. The name of Miss M. Skinner was placed on the probationer nurses' list.

Accounts amounting to £492 were passed for payment.