HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 273, 19 November 1901, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Thk Board met on Monday. Present: Messrs. Oorkill (chairman), McDonald, Sutton, Stohr, Mackiy, Scott, Oliver.

Mr. Sutton apologised for the absence. J1 of the Hawera House Committee's re- 1 port and stated that this was owing to ! his aV'sence from home in consequecce of the Manawatu Show. 1 The Chairman also apologised for the i absence of the New Plymouth Commit- i tea's Several informal meet- 1 ings had ta£en place but no minutes 11 made. The committee had been en- i 1 deavouriDg to get a nurse to fill the i vacancy and having beard from Dr.'; Iratham that in consfquence of trouble at Masierton, a nurse imd probationer had resigned, the nurse had been offered the vacant appointment at New Plymouth, bat hud declined unless sbe could be senior, Arrmgements were then made for the probationer to come on trial and if she suited to be paid as a second year probitioner, but to rank as junior to all the present staff. Mr. Lipper said that upjn reflection he thought the committee had made a mistake and that it would have been better to have sent the probationer to Hawera and transfer the Hawera probationer to New Plymouth. The committee's • action was confirmed. The Chairman reported that the superintendent of the Home had put up a poultry house and yard which was b-ing stocked and there was no doubt but that both the hospital and refuge would be kept supplied with a much more liberal allowance of eggs than hitherto. The House Committee recommended a gratuity of £5 to the hospital wardsman on account of the special work consequent on the number of typhoid cases. The Chairman, in ro ply to a question, stated that the wardsman salary was £75

Mr. Sutton supported the proposal oa the ground that it was only right to recognise the service* of a good officer. Mr. Mackay protested against the grant as he considered that the man had only done his duty efficiently and that it was not right to dip into the ratepayers pockets to reward services peformed in ordinary course. On a division the proposal was carried by sto 3, Messrs. Oliver, McDonald and Mackay voting with the " noes," The Chairman reported that the Inspector-General, Dr, McGregor, paid a surprise visit recently to the hospital, and gave nothing but praise for everything he saw there. As to the Home, Dr. McGregor found fault with the site, design, and almost everything else. He was glad, however, to compliment the Board on the way in which the Home was now conducted, the ihange being noticeable at once.

The Chairman siid that doubtle-s the trouble arose through not submitting the plans to the Inspector-Geneial. The Inspector of Hospitals replied to the Board's protest against the inceised number of lepresontfttives on the Bjard. He pointtd out that the hrge increase in population entitled public bodies to additional representation, and stated that the Department was not aware that the Board objected to an increase in its numbers.

Mr. Mackay pointed out that the increase in the Board would necessitate more accqmmqdatioa the present room was not sufficiently large. He also referred to the increased expenditure for travelling which taken at 411 average of IQs per member — r. Scott: It is qver that. TJie Chairman; Three members do not draw any expenses. Mr. Mackay taid he had taken a low average and even at that amount the expenditure would eat largely into the Board's funds.

The subject then dropped, several members expressing an opinion that there was no remedy. The Department wrote in reply to the Board's communication relative to piyment for patients coming from a district where the Act was not in force, and promising to consider the matter. Mr. Mackay moved that the secre* tary forward to the Department a list of all money lost by the Board in respect of such patients, and that the secretary ioform the Waikato Board of the course taken. '

Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. Wilkinson and Liardet.

The Napier Hospital Board forwarded copy of* resolution pa»sed in favour of the erggtion of a cancer hospital in oris of the centres, and urging that other Boards in pressing the matter on ohe Government.—Action endcrsed.

The police report wtys tsid on the case of 3 man ftamed Mackie for whose maintenance the Auckland Bjard claimed on the ground that he came | from this district. The report was to the effect that the man belonged to Auckland, and the Board decided not to recognise the claim. Several cases of charitable aid were considered, that of a, man named Kilpin who had deserted his wife and five children being left in the chairman's hands to deal with.

Rev. F. A. Burnett wrote, bringing to the notice of the Board the case of a Maori who, with her children, had been deserted and left destitute by her .husband.

_ The Chairman stated that the portion of the Act affecting native cuses could only be put into effect in a district by order in Council. Meanwhile be bad authorised the relief of the case in question.

On the motion of Mr Majkay, ic was decided to instruct the Board's solicitor .take srepa a view to having th;g ; gaaetted so as to bring natives under the Act,

Dr, Leatham reported that during the month there had been 32 admissions to tha hospital, J2 males and 10 females, and 33 pitients discharged, while at present there were 16 uuli-s and 17 female inmates.

Accounts were passad as follows: New Plymouth Hospital £lB7 lls6d, Hawera Hospital .£SB 14s 7d, ('h&yi- 1 table aid £l5O 9a Id. ' '

The went into committee to consider the list of accounts owing by patients for treatment in the hospital. The Board subsequently icspxtud the Hospital snd Refuge, and partiou-. larly the grounds at the latter.