S.C. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3507, 19 October 1899, Page 3

S.C. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

At a meeting on Tuesday there were present Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), I Moore, Grandi, Nial, McLaren, and Gillinghain. Messrs "Walker and Pringle sent apologies. The chairman stated that the credit balance was .£1429 4s 2d. and the payments I that day were were, for charitable aid JlO7 19s 6d and hospital £2Ol 0s sd, leaving a balance of of £IO3O 4s 3d. There was a request from "Waimate for the balance of amount coming to them (£511). The board should consides whether they would be able to advance the whole amount, as their next claims upon the local bodies would not be made till December. Dr Gabitea, the newly appointed resident surgeon, arrived during the month, and he had installed him in his position, and made him acquainted with the position as far as possible. As regards two rooms for the doctor's use, he had taken the responsibility ( of acceding to the doctor's request, and granted him the use of the room formerly used as a board room, and the room adjoining. Dr Gabitea had expressed his willingness to attend to charitable aid cases within reach in the country and to those at the Old Men's Home. The chairman's action was approved. Charitable aid cases were dealt with. Allowances were made of 25s per month to one family and 20s per month to another, at Temuka ; and it was agreed to accept the responsibility of paying off a mortgage on a small property of a person at Temuka in receipt of charitable aid. The board decided to pay half of the £SOO due to the Waimate Board and to pay the other half when the money was actually needed. Mr McLaren brought up the subject of the small sum paid by hospital patients during the year, which compared very unfavourably with parts of the colony. He did not wish to harass really poor people, but there were single people who earn good wages. It was not so much the money, but to get the people out of the habit of looking to the Government or the local bodies for everything, a habit that was the destruction of self-reliance. Ihe chairman suggested that tho doctors would treat outside patients who could pay. The steward's return of patients for September showed that on Ist September there were 20 patients in the hospital; 10 were admitted and 13 discharged during the mouth, leaving 23 in the institution at tho end of the mouth. O? those discharged 10 wore cured, two relieved, and one discharged incurable. Twelve oat-patients, were also tr^at^d.

The Lo.'U'd then proceeded to amend the rales to suit tho hospital working under :i l?c:-'ideut Surgeon with visifang staff. The chairman'" proposal was a'l'oted that a visiting staff of two members bo appointed. A draft of clk> aiuouded rnlos will be considered at meeting.