Hospital Board Meeting.

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 48, 20 August 1937, Page 5

Hospital Board Meeting.

A meeting of the Mangonui Hospital Board was held in Kaitaia on Thursday, yesterday, there being present Messrs. T. S. Houston (chairman), W. Steed, L. J. Matthews, W. Vickers, J. T. Clark, J. W. Hoskin and D. Kitchen and C. B. Michie. In response to a communication from the Health Department in regard to an agreement with Public Works employees for a reduction in hospital charges, the Board is to reply to the effect that it would not alter its previous decision not to enter into such an agreement. Accounts amounting to £422 15/5, were passed for payment. The Board’s bank account is- in credit to the sum of £250 while £I7OO in levies from contributing bodies is due. Appointment of Porters T. H. Dixon of Kaitaia, was appointed engineer-porter, and E. R. Anderson of Rawene was appointed gardener-porter at the County Hospital. The salary of both men was fixed at £l5O per year. First Meeting of Newly Appointed County Relief Committee In reporting to the last meeting of the Hospital Board on the formation of the County Relief Committee, the secretary, Mr. W. H. Atkins, read correspondence which lead up to such foundation. The scheme now is that the Hospital Board receives the allocation from the Art Union funds and '’he Board will act on recommendations from the committee appointed, which committee is the Board’s executive with Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe representing the Kaitaia Town Area as now the funds pi’eviously handled by the Town Board, will be handled by the new committee as will the funds for the county. Mr. D. Kitchen considered that the funds should be used to relieve the ratepayers by the payment of all charitable aid which now comes out of the Hospital Board funds. The funds are to cover requirements of special cases. Comforts are required but the Hospital Board has only been able to give bare sustenance out of their funds. The Art Union funds will partly relieve the Board’s funds but the regulations will not allow of the Board’s charitable aid being discontinued altogether. ‘ So long as the money reaches the right people,” said Mr. W. Vickers, “it does not matter who handles the funds. It would have been better if the Hospital Board had had control of the funds from the commencement as the Board handles relief payments and so any over-lapping would be obviated.” It was finally decided that the action of the chairman and secretary in nominating the members of the committee, be approved. This resolution was moved by Mr. Clark and seconded by Mr. Matthews, and carried unanimously. Appreciation was expressed by members on the attitude and expressions of Mr. Vickers, county chairman, in regard to the transfer of the funds from the County Council to the Hospital Board.