HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1930, Page 6

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

ACCIDENT INSURANCE POSITION. REGULAR MONTHLY BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board was held yesterday, Mr. J. S. McKay presiding. Also present were Messrs. E. J. Gifford, W. G. Simpson,. S. J. Bennett, E. A. Washer, T. A. Winks, A. L. Campbell,. H. G. Larcom, L. ; Nairn and F. Gillanders. • In response to an inquiry from the board the Hospital Boards’ Association wrote stating that a board was not liable for accidents to the professional, staff. The reason for this was that a board could exercise no power of direction as to how such persons should carry out their duties. As there was no power of direction in the performance of professional duties there was no relationship of master and. servant as regards accidents, consequently there was no liability for insurance. A board was not liable to patients for acts of negligence on . the part of the professional staff, provided that there had been reasonable care in the selection of the staff. As regards nurses there were times when they ceased to be employees as, for example, when a nurse entered an operating theatre she ceased to be an employee as she was then under the control of a doctor. An opinion was being obtained with reference to liability for sickness of nurses, but it was believed that there was no liability as a nurse entered upon her duties with a full, knowledge of the attending risks' arid the onus would bo on her to establish that the illness was the direct result of an accident. Apart from the legal aspect a board would wish to meet its moral obligations and could make a special contract with the insurance company concerned that the principle of non-relationship of master and servant should not apply in the event of a claim arising. Sonic insurance companies would* be prepared to enter into this special contract. - The matter was referred to the finance committee. The Hawera Trotting Club forwarded a donation of £5 ss, which was received wjth thanks. The medical superintendent, Dr. J. Cairney, reported that at the end of April there had been 63 patients in hospital. Fifty-five had been admitted during May and 52 had been discharged or had died during the month, leaving 66 patients at the beginning of June. The daily average of occupied beds for May was 02.6 as against 57.3 last year. The average of occupied beds to each of the nursing staff was 2.1. Forty-four X-ray cases had been dealt with and. 2/6 physio-therapeutic. Twenty out-patients had received 9'5 treatments during the month. ■ The matron of the. Old People’s Home, Miss M. Laing, reported that there were 17 men at the homo and five in hospital. Donations of fruit and papers were acknowledged from Messrs. Sturroek and N. Hutch. BANKRUPTCY OF NATIVE. DEFICIENCY £77' s NO ASSETS. Owing the sum of £77 Is to thirty-one unsecured 'creditors and with no assets to pay his debts, Wai. tai Henarc, a Native, of Normanby, ’appeared in bankruptcy before the District Official Assignee, Mr. R. S. Sage, J.P., at Hawera vesterday. There were also present bankrupt’s solicitor, Mr. E. M. Beecliy, and his interpreter, Mr. M. R. Jones. Owing to the absence of a quorum the meeting was adjourned sine die. The largest amount owing to any one creditor was £26, the other amounts varying to a few shillings. “I own no freehold land, the only interests in freehold that I have being those held by me as trustee for minors,” said bankrupt, in a written statement. “Prior to the death ; of my wife about 18 months ago I used to do labouring work and managed for the most part to keep out of debt. On the dea+.h of my wife I had five children to look after, and since then' three of them have died. I have hadAhe expense in connection with the illness and deaths of members of ray family to bear, besides being handicapped in having to nurse them during illness. lam now 62 years of ago and getting too' old to go out to work. I had hoped to pay off my debts by instalments, but the issue of a judgment summons and a consequent order for imprisonment compelled me to file. I >can make no offer to my creditors.'” CYCLE ROAD RACING. AMATEURS COMPETE TO-MORROW. The second cycle road race to be con-; ducted by the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club will be held to-morrow. The distance is about 17 miles, the route being from the National Bank corner to Normanby and Okaiawa and hack. Mr. L. I. Marler has declared the following handicaps:—A. D. Adlam, A. J. C. Kelson, R. Kelsen, Imin; O. Griffen, L. A. Gargari, liming K. Foy, 4Amin; B Seaver, A. Hart, smin; E. Woollett, ejmin; A. Dredge, J. Dredge, 7£min; S M. Campbell, Bmin; R. Campbell, G. iSinale, BJmiri. AURO A DISTRICT NEWS. The combined Piliama and Auroa Bible class members met on Friday at the residence of Mr. J. Muggeridge, Oeo Road, to spend a social evening. There was a large gathering and a very happy time, was spent in games and in listening to wireless. Interesting competitions werp won by Misses N. Lyndon and J. Tilley. Messrs A. Muggeridge and Theo Evans provided supper. g, Miss M. Malone is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. Deegan. .... Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs are visiting Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Johnstone., The Auroa school football team played a'malch against the Oeo school team on Saturday "morning and won by 11 to 6, Mervyn Kilpatrick, J. Muggeridge and C. Benton, securing the scores. Fred. Kilpatrick" whs ..the referee. ■ I: .