HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10415, 13 April 1897, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, there being present : Messrs. Lennox, McCabe, Beoroft, Jamieson, Gordon, Swales, and Bruce. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. J. Stichbury), Mr. J. M. Lennox was voted to the chair. Hospital Fees.—A communication from the Waikato Charitable Aid Board was rend to the effect that they had referred the case of Conway to their solicitor, and wore prepared to test it. The local Board decided to adhere to their previous resolution, and allow the matter to be tested. The secretary of the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that a man named Smith, belonging to Auckland was being treated at the Thames Hospital', and that the fees in connection with the case will have to be paid by the Auckland Board. The chairman stated that Mr. Strnthern had reported on the caso, and also that the secretary of the Thames Board had intimated that there were also two other Auckland patients undergoing treatment there. These latter cases were referred to Mr. Strathern to report upon. The medical superintendent (Dr. Baldwin) stated that a female patient, belonging to the Thames, was being treated at the Auckland Institution, and that it had been pointed out to her that she would be called upon to pay the fees, She had agreed to do so.

Costlky Home INMATES.— secretary (Mr. Garland) said ho bad written to the Treasury asking that James Nolson be compelled to devote a portion of his imperial pension to the maintenance of bis wife/who was an inmate of the Costley Home. In reply he had been informed that it was not within the power of the Treasury to compel payment, unless by consent of the War Office.

Ambulance. —In accordance with the motion put forward by Mr. Gordon re information concerning the nse of the ambulance waggon, the secretary reported that Mr. Martin was unable to say bow many times a year ib was used, duo to the fact that it had been sent out many times at the request of prirate individuals at a fee, accounts of which were not separately kept. Mr, Gordon thought that as the ambulance was practically the property of the Hospital Board, it would be advisable that a certain set tariff should be arranged for its use by the outside public, in order that there might be no extortion. Several other members concurred in this view, and it was agreed to deal with the matter at the Board's noxt meeting. Charitable Aid.—Mr. Gordon askod if a communication had been received from Rabbi Goldstein with reference to r. reported refusal to provide rations to a certain applicant and her children for charitible aid. The secretary intimated that tho matter had been dealt with by the chairman! and rations were now being provided according to his directions.

Accounts.— the abatement of accounts for tho month of March showed the credit balance of £440 8s sd. v The Estimates.—When the estimate of receipts and disbursements for 1897-98 were laid on the table for perusal, Mr. Becroffc drew attention to the ever-growing increase in the charitable aid vote, which was set down approximately as £5600. He considered that every effort should be made to keep this item down as much as possible, and said he could not see how, after such a prosperous year, the estimate should be several hundreds of pounds more than last year. It would be as well, he thought, to endeavour to instil a self-reliant policy in the breasts of applicants, and moved that £600 be taken off the estimate. Mr. McCabe seconded. A brief discussion followed the course of which the chairman pointed out that the estimate was only an approximate one, and that every endeavour had in the past and would in the future be made to keep the item down. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr. Gordon, in discussing the items re rentals in the estimates, pointed out that the Educational Endowment Commissioners were using a room in the Board's buildings, High-street, and paying no rental for the" same. He thought that they could well afford to pay for the room, the rent from which would go to the Board's funds, and would be very welcome now they were looking in every direction for money to meet tho ever-iocrea-ing expenditure of the hospital, etc. After eomo little discussion it was resolved to appoint a small committee to meet the Commissioners on the matter the amount suggested as rental being £20 Typhoid FEVER.-The medical superintendent in his report Btated that seven patients had been admitted to the fever ward since last ordinary meeting, the total typhoid cases now numbering 36. One of the senior nurses has recently contracted fever, It was resolved to appoint Nurse Bagnall permanently to the staff. Salaries.-It was agreed to increase the salary of the chief cook at the Hospital £15 per annum. An application for an increase from the Cost-ley Home cook was declined.