HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 16, 19 June 1913, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday morning, when there were present:—Messrs F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman), E. Maxwell, J. Hill, G. W. Browne, D. H. McDonald and Mrs. i/ockrill. I REPORTS. The inspector reported that two cases of scarlet fever and one case of tuberculosis had been notified in the district, one of the cases being at Oco, one at New Plymouth, and one case of tuberculosis at Inglewood. He visited Oco on two occasions and disinfected one school and the schoolhouse in which the case of scarlet fever had occurred. He had also enquired into the case of scarlet fever reported at New Plymouth. He had inspected several of the butchers' and bates' premises in the places visited, and had completed the inspection of the 'drainage and sanitary arrangements at all the general and private hospitals in the district. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported that during the month 34 patients were' admitted, 38 were discharged, two had died, and 28 remained in the hospital. The matron of the Old People's Home (Mrs. A. Bayly) stated in her report f that during the month of June the institution had been working very satisfactorily. Discipline had been excellent, and the supplies were very good. Two old men had been admitted and there were now 29 males and six females in the Home. The reports were adopted. GENERAL. Following on a letter received from the Taranaki County Council notifying the inability of that body to raise from the Advances Department a loan to satisfy the hospital levy, and their unwillingness to go on tae open market for a loan, a long discussion ensued on the results of the recent interview' with the Minister for Public Health (Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes). \ Mr. Maxwell moved—"That the chairman be empowered to take any steps he may think fit to impress on the Government the need of an amendment to the law so as to permit of local bodies raising money from the State Advances Board for the purpose of meeting the cost thrown on them by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for building hospitals. Tenders for the erection of a cottage for the nurse at Uruti were opened, but all were refused, and the matter was left in the hands of the chairman and the House Committee. A vote of thanks was passed to the New Plymouth Orchestral Society for the sacred concert given in aid of the Hospital funds. The next meeting of the Board was fixed for July 9.