HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11924, 2 May 1907, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

La9t night the monthly meeting of the above named Board was held, there being present: — Messrs Harrison (Chairman), Atmore, Beuke, Croucher, Everett, lloult, Petfcit, and Robinson. The minutes were confirmed. Accounts were passed for payment on account of the Hospital amounting to £231 Is, and on account of Charitable Aid £169 11s 3d. The Chairman reported the credit balance was £586 15s Bd. . Mr Everett stated that he had been informed that the Motueka Borough Council had not paid its allocation to that Board for twelve months, holding some £90 due to the Board as a protest against the treatment the Council had received, they having applied for a copy of the Board's balance sheet, and their request had never been granted. Further, the Council had never received a copy of the Board's balance-sheet since the Council had been instituted. He had previously mentioned the matter, and be wanted to know why the Council had not -been supplied with a copy of the balance-sheet? The Chairman said he had mentioned the matter in the office when Mr Everett spoke before, and he certainly thought the balancesheet had been supplied to the Council. Mr Croucher said no doubt owing to Mr Gully's continued illness the matter had been overlooked. Mr Pettit pointed out that the Board's balance-sheet had always been advertised in the newspapers. The oorespondence was read and dealt with. The Taranaki Hospital Board supplied, by request, the following information regarding the new Home for Old People at New Plymouth, the cost of lighting, gas being used, £35 per annum ; cost of firing £50 per annum, but a qnantity of firewood is obtained from the trees on the

<rqund ; tost of new Home,, contract :3333, but with extras added £3500. i?be building is of wood, with iron roof.— Resolved to thank the Board.

The architect of the new Home in Sawke's Bay offered to supply the Hoard with tracings of the plane thereof for £20, and if the plans were used for building from an additional charge of JG3O would be made.— Letter received.

Messrs Pettit and Atmore were appointed to Bign for the Board the contracts for tha yearly supplies. Dr Mackay, by request, supplied the daily cost, per head, of the patients in the Hospital: Iv 1903, 7 d; in 1904 7^d; in 1905, l%d; btki 1906 B%d.|The additional cost meant £90 per year. The cost of the milk and meat was principallyjaccoun table for the increase. A good., deal of milk is being used at the Consumptives' Annexe

Dr iMackay's report and requisition were read.

Kesolved that Dr Mackay have power to act as to the purchase of a double tent; that the Consumptives' Annexe Committee be asked if they have any further funds available with which another double tent, which was offered to the Board could be procured; and to obtain sixty feet of hose, for fire prevention purposes at the Hospital.

The Relieving Officer's report was considered.

Resolved to grant ££ towards a poor woman having her eye operated on.

On a proposal to send a boy to the Wakarewa institution, Mr Everett said he bad to report as requested by the Board, as to the Wakarewa institution. He found that the institution had no room for any more boys and only room for one more girl, tie strongly deprecated any children being removed from where they had been placed at the dictates of other governing bodies. He reiterated his opinion that the boarding out system as regards children was wrong, and under that system they were not looked after like they were at an institution such as the one at Wakarewa.

Mr Hoult took exception to Mr Everett's condemnation of the boarding out system. He almost daily saw some children who were boarded out with parties living in bis district, and he could testify that tboße children were well cared for, and they were well kept. One great advantage of the boarding out system was : children were not mixed with all sorts, as they were in a big institution. Resolved on the motion of Mr Croucher, seconded by Mr Atmore, that the Relieving Officer have power to place the boy where he best could. Resolved on the motion of Mr Hoult, seconded by Mr Crouoher, that on the Trustees of the Wakarewa institution declining to allow two boys paid for by the Board to remain in that institution, that they be placed with a family at Brightwater.

With regard to placing a recipient of charitable aid in the Home, the matter was left in the hands of the Chairman and the Relieving Officer. Resolved that the Board's annual balance sheet be advertised in the local newspapers, and that slips of same be procured and sent to each member of the Board, and each contributing body.

Two tenders were received for cutting, carting, and stacking the lirewood lying on the site for the new Home for Old People, namely, W ise and Co., £43; Woollett and Orr, £3l. The lowest tender was accepted.

Three tenders were received for fencing the site of the new Home, namely, Woollett and Orr, £62; Wise and Co., £43; and Horncastle and Lawrence, £38 10s. The lowest tender was left with the Town Committee and Mr Croucher to deal with ; and the owner of the property on the southern boundary to be given notice of the Board's intention to fence.

Resolved, on the motion of Mr Atmore, seconded by Mr Beuke, that the Board's sympathy be extended to Sister Hurst, of the Hospital staff, in her recent bereavement.

Resolved on the motion of Mr Atmore, that the whole Board, with Dr. Mackay, be set up as a Committee to collect information an<J consider the requirements for the new Home for the Old People, with a view to inviting competitive tlu.sigus; the Committee to report at the next meeting of the Board. Mr Atmore said as the members of the Board were aware, himself and Mr Pettit were defeated at the election of City Councilors. He believed in the representative principle, and the question was should Mr Per.tit and himself resign their seats on that Board? He would like to hear an expression of opinion from the members.

Mr Everett said the representatives of tho local bodies on that Board were elected for twelve months. If he was placed in a like position to that of Messrs Atmore and Pettit he would not resign. Mr Beuke endorsed what Mr Everett had said. They were there for twelve months from the time of their appointments, and there should be no talk of resigning. In the past others placed in a like position bad not resigned. Mr Pettit said he knew others had not resigned from the Board when placed in a like position. He did not think changes were wise during the year's work; at the same time he did not wish to hold tbe position as an* interloper. If it was thought he was taking advantage to deter anyone else baying the seat he would resign. Mr Croucher said the Chairman of the Board and himself were just in the same position. He bad ceased to be a member of the Richmond Borough Council. There should be no talk of resigning. Mr Robinson considered there was no occasion for Messrs Pettit and I Atmore resigning. They were put | in for the year, and their time would j not 'be up until the end of November or beginning of December. Mr Everett said if it was an idea of the City Council that resignations should follow when men are put out of the Council that Board should not endorse such a view, which meant disorganisation of the Board. Here they werejin tbe middle of an important work involving an expenditure of several thousand pounds, and it would never do for members, who had a grip of the whole business, to resign. Mr Atmore thauked the members for their expression of opinion. As they considered there should not be any change, he was willing to fall in with their view of the matter. The Hospitaf report showed 68 on the list, 23 of whom were received during April, and 28 left, leaving 40 in the institution at the end of April. Nine are in tbe Consumptives' Annexe. Of those who left 23 recovered, two were relieved, and three died. The Board adjourned after sitting for about three hours.