HOSPITAL BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 11

HOSPITAL BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING.

CHAIRMAN REVIEWS THE YEAR.

The annual meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held to-day, Mr F. liorrell presiding. There were also present Messrs T. D. Boag, H. B. SorenBen, W. Tanner, G. Scott, W. H. Cooper, E. Evans, O. Bradley, R. McMillan, W. Spencer, H. J. Otley, X Ashley, J. H. Davis, Hon. R. Moore, and Mesdames Christie and Wilson.

WORK OF THE YEAR. The chairman, in the course of his address, said: — "By the completion and occupation of the administration buildings and the Coronation Hospital, the big drain on the pockets of the ratepayers has, I hope, come to an end. This year the proposals laid before you with regard to capital expenditure mean a reduction in the levy and subsidy of £12,000. One particular feature of the board's expenditure for the past year is the low cost of outdoor relief, which is less than at any time since 1885." FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that the debit balance, after providing for cheques drawn to date, was £2496 18/6. The subsidy due was £5509 1/11. As regarded the proposed alterations in cite and plans of the Home for Tuberculous Children, the proposals made by Dr Blackmore did away with the need for the erection of a separate administration block.

The committee recommended that increases in salary be granted to vari©us, officers. The board was recommended to grant N £4O each to the Cheviot and Wairau County • Councils, as contributions towards the medical guarantee funds in those districts. This made the medical subsidies: Cheviot County Council £4O, Wairau -County Council £4O, Kowai County and Amberlev Town District (combined) up to £25.

, The proposals of the various departmental committees regarding financial requirements would, if adopted, result in a levy on local bodies of more than £SOOO less than last year. • Mr "VV. H. Cooper said the increases <»f salary should be submitted to the new board. They should not do this in their dying hours; • ■ Mr. .Otley said this was not their dying hour. Only a few insignificant men from the city were going out, possibly, to-morrow. The remainder of the members would be there for some considerable time, and they should do the ■work, not shirk it. ; After some discussion, increases were agreed on as follow:—Dr Scott, from £6OO, to £7OO per annum;, Miss Thurston, £225 to £250; senior house surgeon, £175 to £200; junior house surgeon, £IOO to £150; aeting-junior house surgeon, £75 to £100; sisters after fourth year, £BS to £100; dental assistant; £65 to £7B. ; Increases were also granted to employees at the (Memorial" Home, Tuatangi, Sanatorium, and in the office. HOSPITAL COMMITTEE. ; The Hospital Committee recommended that with reference to the apiilieation from Arthur ? s Pass tunuel workers for free beds in the hospital, and offering to contribute the sum of £6 per month, the board, grant the use - of four beds for one year,'in consideration of a monthly payment of £6, provided ihat a satisfactory guarantee of the payment of the money is forthcoming. The committee recommended that Dr McDiarmid be appointed senior house surgeon, and that Dr Venables be appointed junior house surgeon. ; The report was adopted. < PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. The Public Health Committee reported that there were 33 cases of scarlet lever in Bottle Lake Hospital. : \ INSTITUTIONS; COMMITTEE. . \ The Institutions Committee reported that the chairman (Mr Tanner) had Visited the various institutions and had found matters generally satisfactory at all of;'them. CHARITABLE AID,. ; The Charitable Aid Committee reported that 69 applications for relief were dealt with, representing 202 patients. Belief had been granted in 69 cases.