Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11503, 4 July 1900, Page 1

Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A. special meeting of the Board was held on Tuesday. Messrs "F. P. Corkill (chairman), McCullnm, Sutton, McDonald, Leppsr, Dingle, Smart, Wilkinson, and Oliver were present.

Old People's Home. — The Board met to consider the question of the proposed erection of a new building for the aged and needy at New Plymouth. Referring to the financial aspect the Chairman said that on April lsl last the Board had £1000 in hand ; obligations in respect of Havrera had earmarked say £400 of this total, [leaving £600 to come and go upon on April Ist last. This started the year with a good surplus. For the current year, ending March 31, 1901, the Board had made the same levy as last year on the old valuation, and this would bring the Board to same revenue as last year, and, approximately, there would be a surplus of £950 on the year's transactions. Then taking the next two years— from April 1, 1901, to March 31, 1903 on the new valuation ,thej Board would again have an approximate sur- ! plus over expenditure of £950 each | year. These figures then at the end of j 1 March 31, 1903, would leave the Board with an approximate surplus (taking into account the £600 with which the present year started) of £3450. — Mr Dingle queried the figures. — The Chairman replied that his figures were only approximate, and were based on the past income and expenditure of the Board. — Mr Smart said the figures worked out clear enough. —Mr McCullum : You think then, Mr Chairman, that the Board is in a position to proceed with a new refuge. — The Chairman : I think so, but it is for the members to say if the building should be proceeded with. — Mr Dingle said he was satisfied with the figures, but unforeseen expenditure may crop up. — Mr Sutton said the figures were clear enough. — The Chairman said that if the Board should go in for a new building the old refuge on the Hospital Road should be sold for what it would fetch. He described it as an " unsightly excrescence," and added it was " bug ridden." It was a beautiful bit of architecture, but was not now suitable foi the Board's purposes. — The Chairman, on returning to the subject of a new home for old people, said that two years and nine months hence the Board would have £3450 surplus over ordinary expenditure. He also read a letter from Mr N. K. MacDiarmid, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, who wrote stating that the Bank would advance up to £2500 at 5 per cent, for the erection of the home, provided all the Board's moneys were banked in the institution*. — The Chairman added that the manager had told him privately that £2500 need not be the limit, but the figure he (the Chairman) considered was sufficient. — The clerk, in'answer to a question, said the Board had some £700 odd now in the bank. — The Chairman then read a resolution passed at a meeting of ratep lyers at Stratford. The resolution was in effect that, before the Board committed itself to a large expenditure in an old people's home in New Plymouth, it should take into consideration the urgent need of suitable hospital accommodation- for urgent cases at Stratford. — Mr Dingle made a strong case for hospital axcommodation at Stratford. He pointed out the town was growing, the country was a large one, and accidents were at times numerous, and the maimed were put to great pain and inconvenience through not having hospital arrangements at Stratford. If the Board could finance to build a home he thought that the Board should be able to finance £500 or so to build duch a neceßsary institution as a hospital at Stratford. He concluded that the Stratford people intended to see the matter through. — Mr Smart also spoke in support of hospital erection at Stratford. He pointed out the claim Stratford had, and added that some accommodation should be provided there for urgent cases. — Mr Sutton said he would support any proposal to build a cottage hospital at Stratford. — Mr Dingle (to the chairman) : Would you support hospital accommodation at Strat ford ? — The Chairman said he would not support the nmintenatice of a staff at Stratford, but would support having a place for urgent cases more on tho lines that were once in force at Hawera. — Mi % Dingle said at next meeting he would move in the direction of setting up a committee to go into the question. — The other members concurred in this view^ — Iv answer to a question the Chairman said that the hospital rate in the present levy was 8s 4d in the £1000 over the whole aroa. — The Chairman then handed round slips giving the figures of

the nine tenders received for the erection of the Refuge at New Plymouth. — There were alternate tenders. — The lowest tender on the higher plan was G. Cliff's of £3,333.— Mr Smart reckoned the architect's plan could be reduced, and he gave instances. — Mr Dingle said to put the matter in order he would move that Boon Bros.' tender (£3019) on t.e reduced plan be accepted. — Mr Smart seconded* — Mr Wilkinson said he would prefer to see the building completed as per plan, but thought the expenditure might be reduced a bit. — Mr Lepper said he did not believe in spoiling the slip for a pennyworth of tar. He believed in having the building built in its entirely as suggested by doctors and architect. — Mr Sutton said he was in favour of having the building erected according to plan, but said that reductions ecu d be made to bring the total cost to £.3000. — Mr McDonald supported the adoption of the plan without cutting down. They would need all the accommodation in a few years. — Mr Oliver reckoned that so much space was not needed in a building like the one under consideration as in a hospital. — The Chairman differed.— Mr McCullum supported the carrying out of the plan, but thought some saving might be effected without spoiling the building. He moved, That Mr G. Cliff's tender be accepted. — Mr Lepper seconded. — The Chairman said that the time had arrived to build a suitable home for the aged needy. It was a matter that affected all the district, as the majority of the inmates come from outlying districts. The Board could pay for the proposed building out of revenue, and he thought it a pity to spoil the building for a few pounds. He favoured accepted the lowest tender for the comlete scheme, and that the architect arrange for substitution of totara piles for concrete. — Mr McCullum's amendment to accept G. C iff' s tender for £3,333 was then put, and earned on ilio voices.— Mr Wilkinson then moved ns an amendment that the Chairman and Messrs Dingle and Smart confer with the architect ann lowest tenderer with reference to substituting piles for concrete, and tphavecbeaperventUators; the Committee to have full power to accept an'amended tender on behalf of the Board. — This was put as an amendment to Mr McCullum's resolution, and carried. Mr Lepper moved, That the consent of the Minister be obtained to sell the Board's reserve at Henui. — Mr McDonald seconded. — Carried. The B»ard adjourned.