HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, 3 August 1916, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held Yesterdav. Present: Messrs H. Baigent (chairman), T. Bell, W. N. Franklvn, G. Macmahon, G. H. Allan, EL S. Hoult, W. Lock, and Mrs Watson. It was resolved that the Town Committee report to the Board at its next 'meeting' as to the best arrangement to be made for the future use of the ambulance. The report of the Master of the Alexandra Home was received. It was resolved that- an inmate be nctified that in the event of his being again found "the worse for Hquor a prohibition order ■will be taken out against him. The report of the Believing Officer (Mr H. Ooltman) was read and adopted. HEALTH) INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Health Inspector (Mr Coltman) reported for the month of July as follows : Infectious diseases : Nelson City.—Two cases of diphtheria haq been reported and attended to; also 13 cases of scarlet fever, and the patients had been removed to the Hospital and the places disinfected. Six of the cases reported are in one family, and these had been isolatedi owing* to insufficient accommodation being available at the fever ward. Motueka and district.—Fifteen additional cases of scarlet fever had been reported, the majority having been attended to; also those reported at the latter end of last month. Takaka.—Three additional cases of scarlet fever and two cases of diphtheria had been reported. He hoped to visit the district in the course of a few days. Richmond. —Two extremely mild cases of diphtheria had been reported. Motueka. —Three cases of diphtheria, had been reported, and he intended going over in a few days. One case of diphtheria was also reported from Orinoco. Other cases that have been reported in the Upper Mataki and other places have not been reported upon, owing to being in such out-of-the-way places, and on account of the heavy weather it has not been possible to go, as the country; has been ' almost impassable by reason of'heavy floods, but he would attend to them as soon as possible. Under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act: Owing to sickness being so continuous in Kelson and in the outlying districts, and- other matters requiring attention from the Board, he had been unable to find time to obtain samples for analysis, or any other duties under this heading. (Regarding a complaint from the Health Department, it was resolved that the Department be informed of the full circumstances why the Health Inspector is unable to at once visit .all cases of infectious diseases reported, and that the Board had complete confidence in the way the Inspector carries out his duties. HOSPITAL SURGEON'S REPORT. The Hospital (Dr. Jamieson) reported that 44 patients had been admitted during the month of July, 44 had been discharged,. and. 8 had died, 58 remaining. - Ihiring his absence on leave, the work had been conducted by Dr. Washbourn. The wards at present were less busy than at any period during the last 12'"months, but scarlet fever cases continued to occur. At the' request of the Board, Dr. Jamieson gave the weekly dietary scale at the Hospital, stating that as much variety as possible was given. The doctor also answered several questions asked by members regarding complaints made as to the quality, etc., of the food. ALEXANDRA HOME INMATES. Mr rLocfc reported that the Chairman and himself,! accompanied by Messrs Field and Hudson, M.'sP., and the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, interviewed the Hon. J. A. tHanan, Minister of Education, regarding the occupation of one of the buildings at Richmond erected for imbecile girls. The Minister regretted ■very much: that a mistake occurred, and that the Board had been advised that they would be permitted to occupy the building for -six months, whereas it should have been six weeks. His department ; was in no Vray responsible therefor, as it was clearly stated 1 in •writing to the Health Department that the Board) would be permitted to occupy 'the building' for six weeks. He stated that the buildings should have been ready and opened long since. He had had- many pressing requests from parents and guardians of feeble-minded girls throughput the Dominion; in fact, there were about 500 seeking admission, and ! the Department had made many commitments, and he was under promise to Parliament to nave the building opened' as speedily as possible. He sympathised with the Board 'in its difficulty, and trusted that other accommodation for the elderly people under its control could be found. Mr Lock also read a letter from the Hon. Mir Hanan received that day, stating that, "he had definitely promised to have the braidings ready for the admission of defective girls within the next few weeks, and) it was essential they should be available at the end of the period for which they were granted, viz., six weeks.".

The Chairman said Mr Lock had put the position clearly, and the Board would at once have to take steps to procure accommodation. It was resolved that the Town Committee take the matter in hand, with a view to* -finding accommodation either in town or country. The Minister of Internal Affairs understood that the Nelson Mental Hospital could take some inmates, and 3>rs. Hay and Valantihe thought some could "be accommodated at Picton and Blenheim-. Dr. Hay mentioned that the Board could not have the old defective Home at Biohmond. NEW HOSPITAL. , Mr A. B. Griffin, architect, forwardel a claim for a further progress payment of £SOO for preparing plans of the proposed new Hospital, and enclosing a legal opinion from- Messrs Bout, Milner, and Gully. After discussion, it was resolved' that as soon as the plans and specifications for the new Hospital are fully completed, and l provided they meet with the requirement of the -City'Engineer and are ap- : proved "by the Minister for Hospitals, Mr Griffin be paid the sum of £3OO. The Chairman reported on the deputation's visit to the Minister in Charge of Hospitals (Hon.- G. \\. B.ussell), stating that, he had- told the Minister that it ■was the wish of the Board and the people 'of Nelson that the erection of Ihe Hospital should be gone on with. The Minister said he would require to sanction the plans when they were complete. The •chairman said the Minister seemed to - think that he had been harshly< criticised' by" the Board, hut he (the chairman) denied tnat that was so. The Minister hadl stated that he did not intend "to sanction the expenditure of any

Government money at excessive prics-3. However, he had authorised] him to teil the Board that he would further consider the matter.

Mr Lock said that the Minister's great objection was to tihe cost of material. The deputation had pointed out that certain material was not likely to become cheaper for a long 1 time after the war ■was over, and certain portions of the work -could be gone on with. The Minister would agree to that if the plans could' be so arranged. A letter was received from the Stoke Progressive Society, protesting against the delay in the erection of the new Hospital.—lit was resolved to reply that the Board- is expediting the matter as rapidly as possible. GENERAL. The secretary of the conference of local bodies contributing to the Nelson Hospital and. Charitable Aid Board forwarded resolutions passed by the conference. The Town Clerk, Nelson, notified that the scarcity of water at the Alexandra Home at the time of the fire was d-ue to a "block-age in the main, and the matter was being attended to. It was resolved that the tender of the Gash. Drapery Company for certain classes of goods be accepted for the balance of the yearl Accounts were passed for payment as follows: —Hospital, £476 Is 7d'; charitable aid, £489 3s 6d, including furniture for Old People's Home.