HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14136, 16 February 1910, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. A meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held this morning. Present; Messrs. F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman) Maxwell, C. Andrews, J. R. Hill, J. Brown, C. O’Sullivan, and D.H. McDonald. The names of Rachel Spear, Wellington, and Christian F. G. Mac Lean, Feilding, were added to the '-outside, probationers list. THE HOSPITAL. .. Dr- H. B. Leatham, MedicaH Superintendent of the Hospital, reported that during the past four weeks 44 patients had been admitted, 35 had been discharged, 2 had died, and tliqro were 35 remaining. Sixteen ’ operations had been performed. OLD PEOPLE’S HOME. The matron in charge of the Old People’s Home (Mrs. M. Farrar) reported that two persons had been admitted during tho four weeks, and one inmate had left, leaving 32 inmates (27 males and , 5 females) in the Home. Discipline had' been good. ELECTION OF NEW BOARD. The Inspector-General (Dr. T. H. A. Valentine) notified that the first meeting of new boards under the legislation of last year, would be held on April 1, the day after the termination of the old Board’s term of office, so that there should be no interim. • Dr. Valintine stated that the election of boards under the n-ew Act would be held on March 16; that in framing regulations with regard to the appointment of representation, he had, .as far as posible, arranged for the same number of mmehers as with boards under the old law, except where the boards had been composed of all the members of a County Council and borough, which made ia largo and unweildy Board. Personally, ho would rather see a small than ,a large hoard, of 8 or 12 members. The Act, however, provided that a board should consist of not less than; eight nor of more than twenty members. Where there was a great number of local bodies, it would naturaEly he difficult to have small boards. Dr. Valintine proposed to apportion tho , local bodies in this district, so that the board would consist of twelve persons. Before definitely deciding"there- ; on, however, he would like to have the Board’s opinion at the earliest possible date. The secretary stated that in. reply to Dr. Valintine the chairman hjad replied, suggesting that the beam consist of nine members, apportioned as follows:—Clifton County, 1 member; Taranaki County, 3 members; New Plymouth and Fitzroy, 2 members; Inglewood and Waitara, 1 member; Egmont County and Opunake Town District, 2 members. _ In reply, Dr. Valintine wro+ie that the correct apportionment of nuenibers would be as follow: —Clifton County, 1 member; Taranaki County, 4 members; New Plymouth and Fitzroy, 3 members; Inglewood and Waitara, I- member; Egmont County and Opnnake Town District, 2 members: a total of eleven members. The chairman pointed out that this representation gave the Taranaki County, with New Plymouth and Fitzroy, seven representatives on the Aboard, a majority vote. This - , should not be. ; Mr. Maxwell considered thiat tho grouping of representation was excellent, but the apportionment very bad. The chairman’s suggestion of nine members, and his apportionment of them, were very good. The increase in the size of the hoard was only piling}on expense. Mr. J. Brown remarked thaL'if the Government- would have eleven, mem-, hers it would have them, and it was no good kicking against the pricks. On the motion of Mr. Maxwell, seconded by Mr. O’Sullivan, the board passed a resolution regretting that its recommendations had riot been agreed to, and expressing the opinions that the representations given to New Plymouth and the Taranaki County' were too large, and that a board of! eleven members was also too large.