HOME FOR INCURABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2758, 23 January 1907, Page 13

HOME FOR INCURABLES.

DISCUSSION BY BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES. At Wednesday afternoon's meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trueteee a deputa- ! tion from the Charitable Aid Board, conj sisting of Dr Batchelor and Mr W. Wills, placed before them the advisability of the 1 establishment of a home, or in come way 1 of making provision tor persons suffering I from incura/ble diseases. Mr Wills said they haxl met the trustees for the purpose of asking them what provision could be made at the Benevolent Institution for the reception of incurable patients from the Hospital or elsewhere. I Som© provision would have to be made [■for'this; clasKof casf>. At the present time ! they hatl a "if rge number of incurable cases. | and they were of the opinion that proi vision might be made for some of these 1 cases at the Benevolent Home. I Dr Batchelor point-ed out that it was dangerous to lea\e this cla<ss of case jn the Hospita 1 , where there were other patients. In incurable case.-, of cancer, for example, patients could not be kept in the Hospital for weeks and months, as they were a danger to ether patiente in the warde. It seemed to him that it was a question whether or not the Charitable Aid Board should establish some institution for incurable cases. That would mean a tax on the ratepayers, and was, he thought, un- ! necessary. It appeared to be a very eH«-y i thjng to erect a waid at the Benevolent Home, where it could be more oeonomicalh administered than anywhere else. It wae a very serious cost for the Hospital, whereas if they could get a ward at the Benevolent the cost would not be half as great. s Mr Tj."boy<= said there were no two questions a< to the necessity for such a ward, but it was just a question of whether the matter came within the province of the Benevolent Trustees. The more incurable cases they had the more supervision land the more medical assistance would be required. j Mr Wills said that perhaps the trustees might undertake the supervision if the Charitable Aid Board provided the funde for the building of a new ward to cope with these cases. Mr Tapper said that what was wanted was that a building should be put in the Benevolent Grounds. The pite for such a homo or institution would require to be a more, p!ea«ant one than would be found on the grounds at the Benevolent Institution. Dr Batchflor ■yiid that the trustee* were evidently all agreed as to the necessity for the establishing of «uch a home; the only thing now was the matter of finance. If they started a separate institution they would require to have nur«=e,s and a manager, and that would cost a much larger sum than it would if there \va« a ward at the Benevolent Institution. Thpv were living in a small community, and did not want to start a number of fresh institutions. The deputation then withdrew. Mr Talboys c a,d that they themselves had a number of incurable cases at the Benevolent Institution, and they did their best for them, but a? to whether that best was as much as should be done was matter for consideration. Mr Burnett said the whole matter should he held over until they had a full mt-eting of the board ro discuss it. Mr Arfc'e said if they were going to etart a separate, institution, such as the one proposed, they would have to go to great expense in the way of getting a medical and nursing staff Mr Larnach said the matter was not within the province of the Bene\olent Trustee at all. •

1 Mr Talboys agreed with this. The Bf'evolent fnstitution was anything biifc I a desirable plare for a home for incurables. Further consideration of the matter was deferred for a fortnight.

At the last mooting of the Wellington Trades arul Labour Council it \va<= decided to admit i he Domestic Woikers' Union to affiliation.

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