HOSPITAL BOARD

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11684, 23 November 1923, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. CHARITABLE AID EXPENDITURE. The monthly meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board wae held yesterday, there being present: —Messrs F. Castle (chairmen), Wi Appleton, J. H. Bertram, J. W. Bntler, D. Campbell, C. w. Ghanman, W. Cole, Rev. Dr J. X. Elliott, A, R. Hornblow, A. J. McCurdy, G. Petheriok, C. B. Eobinson, Bev. H. van BtaTeren, C. A. Williamson,'E. Windley, and Mrs McVioar. Leave of absence was granted to Mr C. M. Luke. Letters of appreciation for kindness received while in the Wellington Hospital were received from A. Aitken and J. W. Harris. SOCIAL WELFARE COMMITTEE The Social Welfare Committee recommended: (1) That, with respect to the letter of the Tauranga Hospital Board, dated October 26th, suggesting concerted action towards procuring "prison pay" should: commence from the date of committal, a reply be sent indicating the Wellington Board's concurrence and willingness to co-operate, but that quite recently the chairman of the Social Welfare Committee took advantage of a favourable opportunity to prees this suggestion upon the Minister personally, when the latter held out no hope of being able to make the extension desired. (2) That the maintenance advances made during the period of October 2nd to November 6th (five weeks) be now formally confirmed. (3) That accounts amounting to .£ll2l 13s Id be passed for payment. The Committee presented the following statistics: — Volume of business (period, October 2nd to November 6th, five weeks), —Cases standing, October 2nd, 118; applications to November 6th, 33; total number assisted, 133; cases terminated, 34; remaining, November 6th, 119. Comparative, table of distress, according to causes of distress:— Oct. Sept. Aug. Unemployment 31 26 38 Desertion and Separation 16 19 19 Sickness 53 38 62 Widowhood 28 29 28 Old Age 8 9 12 Imprisonment 7 6 5 Miscellaneous 10 8 8 Total 153 155 172 Of the 31 unemployment cases, three were those of women without male support, eleven were those of men physically unfitted for other - than special (light) kind of work, and 17 were those of ablebodied men. Month of October. Outdoor— 1922. 1923. No. of cases 153 142 Daily average persons 478 441 Rations 2226 1200 Cash grants £225 £lB3 . Children £1 -td IndoorDaily average 114 116

CASES, PERSONS AND COST. Cost Cases. Adults. Child, per wk. £

The report was adopted. Mr A. J. McCurdy pointed out that the statistics as presented might be misleading, because the number of unemployed shown was 81, but this referred to the total number of applications which had been received. Many had applied only once, had been helped out of a temporary difficulty, and had not been heard of again. As a matter of fact there were only eight cases on their books at !he present time.

Unemployment Desertion and 31 5G 100 so Separation ... 16 16 48 21 Sickness 33 77 ' 101 60 Widowhood ... 28 28 95 30 Old Age 8 11 — 3 Imprisonment 7 7 20 13 Miscellaneous •10 15 45 10 Total 153 210 409 167