HOSPITAL BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 11

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held its last meeting, prior to the elections, this morning. There were present: Messrs F. Horrell (chairman), H. B. Sorensen, H. J. Otley, A. Smith, W. H. Cooper, I. Andrew, W. J.. Walter, B. Evans, O. Bradley, J. Patterson, D. McMillan, W. P. Spencer, P. G. Norton, S. Andrew, M. Bethel), the Hon. E. Moore, and Mesdames Green, Christie, and Wilson. FINANCE EECOMMENDATIONS. The Finance Committee reported that the Minister of Public Health had approved of the acceptance of Mr Taylor's tender for the erection of the Waikari Hospital for £5724. This year the amount to be raised by. levy and subsidy for maintenance purposes was | £3IG7 less than last year, but, unfortunately, the Government had not yet attempted to alter the system of subsidies, and the local authorities would still have to pay disproportionately when compared with the proportion to be paid in some other districts. The erection of an operating theatre, at a cost of £2500, was imperative. The report was adopted. HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The Hospital Committee reported that the total fees collected from the various departments controlled by the committee amounted to £12,416, as against £9094 for the previous year. The average number of patients in hospital during March was 321. In the genito urinary -department, 38 different persons attended, 21 being new patients. Letters were received from other boards agreeing to urge upon the military authorities the necessity for releasing nurses from military service, to enable them to accept appointments in civilian hospitals. A letter was received from the Inspector-General of Hospitals, asking if the board was prepared to consider the question of making accommodation, or, at least, some arrangement so that women doctors might obtain experience as house surgeons. It was decided to reply that the board had no accommodation for women house surgeons, and that the experience of the past had not been satisfactory. The Akaroa Borough and County Councils were moving to have maternity hospital accommodation provided in their district.

•The report was adopted. MEDICAL REPOETS. " The "medical superintendent reported that for the month 334 patients had been admitted and 303 discharged. Sixteen had died, and those remaining in hospital on March 31 were 541. There had been- 271 operations under anesthetics. The bacteriologist reported that 622 examinations had been conducted, and the dental department that there had been 804 attendances, with 647 operations. The reports were adopted. Dr G. J. Blackmore reported that during March there were 191 attendances at the dispensary, and 25 new cases were notified. There were 75 patients in residence at the sanitorium, and 48 at the Coronation Hospital. SALARY INCREASES. The Financial Committee recommended that the following salaries should be paid:—A fourth year nurse ' who has passed examinations £6O a year for the first six months and after, while a staff nurse, £75. For sisters, £IOO first year, £lls seeond year, £l3O third year, and £l5O fourth year. The report was adopted. FINANCIAL ESTIMATES. The Finance Committee reported that £23,974 was estimated for expenditure on the capital account for the ensuing year. In addition, £5884 had already been spent, and refunds amounted to £1434, making a gross total of £31,292. The total requirements on account of maintenance would be £67,704. The levy for capital woiild be £11,987, and the levy for maintenance 3/8. The levy on local authorities would be £3307 1/6 more than last year and the levy for maintenance £1849 18/6 less. The report was adopted.

their period of attendance at Technical or University Colleges. If that scheme were given effect to, thousands of men who desired to improve their educational status would be given the opportnnity. The bursaries could be of a value of from £lO to £25, and would, of course, be subject to .industry and good behaviour. Outside of the Government repatriation schemes, that, in his humble opinion, was a direction in which New Zealand could show her appreciation of the services rendered to the Empire by her men.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

But what of the future? Thousands cf the men who were now returning apparently in the best of health would in the course of a few years probably thow symptoms of tubercular disease, mental strain, neurasthenia and other similar troubles which would develop as the years went on. Many of those men would marry and have families. When trouble overtook them as a result of their war service, were their wives and children to be told to go to the cold charity of the hospital boards? Eather, should not this great fund of £1,700,000 be conserved for the benefit, in after years, of their wives and children, as well as of the men themselves?

'' Finally,'' said the Minister, "lam satisfied that, if the funds are to be protected, the returned soldiers themselves must be brought directly into control of ihem. The money was raised for them and they are entitled, in my opinion, to be taken in at least as active partners in connection with the management of the funds. The War Funds Council has received assistance from Mr Douglas Seymour, general secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, who, himself an old Canterbury College man, at my request has collaborated with the department in connection with the war fund bursaries. I hope before long that there will be an increase in the membership of the War Funds Council, provided by returned soldiers selected by their association.