HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was. held at the offices, High-street, yesterday afternoon, Mr. A. Bruce (chairman) presiding. There were also present: Messrs. John Bollard, M.H.R., A. P. Friend, J. Jamieson, J. Taylor, R. Salmon, T. Tudehope, Y. Warren, and the Rev. W. Finlay Wilson. Plague Hospital: The question of accepting the liability incurred in the preliminary work on the building at the original site fixed for the plague hospital was discussed, and on the motion of Mr. Friend it was agreed, "That the Board take up the liability to the contractor for wages for work done on the plague hospital prior to the alteration of the site, subject to the architect's certificate." Duty on Tobacco: A letter was read from tho Wanganui Board suggesting that representations should be made to the Government urging that no duty should be charged on tobacco supplied to the old men at the homes. It was decided to inform the Wanganui Board that a similar effort on the part of the Auckland Board had failed some time ago. Dr. Baldwin; The adjourned business relative to Dr. Baldwin's appointment as sanitary commissioner, and his resignation as medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, was brought forward on' the motion of Mr. Bollard, who urged that the P os '" tion in the hospital be considered vacant, and the lion, medical staff bo consulted as to filling the vacancy. A letter having been read from Dr. Baldwin, stating that after careful consideration of the expression _of feeling on the part of the members relative to his application for leave of absence, he'' had decided to resign. Mr. Bollard altered the motion, to the effect that Dr. Baldwin's resignation be received, and steps be taken to fill the vacancy. The resolution was adopted, Messrs. .Wilson, Friend, Tudehope, and Salmon referring in high terms to the doctor's services. Charitable Aid Report: The report of the Charitable Aid Committee, advising the admission of four old persons to the Costley Home, was adopted. Hospital Report: The medical superintendent's report showed that there are at present in the hospital 115 males and 47 females. Subsidies: Mr. Taylor moved, "That as the Government has not deigned to make any reply to, or act in accordance with the resolution moved by me, and passed by this Board, on May 8, 1899, requesting the Government to subsidise each hospital district in the colony on the basis of population, this Board will for the future, and until such request be granted, allow 50 per cent, off each hospital account for the medical treatment of adult patients, and 75 per cent, off accounts for children under 14 years of age, if paid within three months of the discharge of such patient, provided such patient has been a resident in the Auckland hospital district for 12 months immediately prior to such discharge, and that the need for treatment was not caused by the patient's own fault or misbehaviour; and it is hereby expressly understood that the object of this resolution is twofold— to secure a fairer share of public money from the Government for the Auckland hospital disfict, and secondly, to constitute the whole of the community within such district a large united friendly society, by which those who are unfortunate enough to require medical treatment shall receive it as nearly free as possible, and without the appearance of having received it as a charity." Mr. Jamieson seconded pro forma, and the discussion was adjourned, ______