The Thames Hospital and Old Men's Refuge.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8605, 9 March 1897, Page 3

The Thames Hospital and Old Men's Refuge.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. Me

GREGOR.

Yesterday afternoon Dr. McGregor, Inspector General ofHospi'als^etc., was waited upon at the Pacific Hotisl by members of the Thames Hospital Trustees, • . -' ; '-j "- \" : -'-', •_• "-.'..'■.. There were present the 1 Bey. P. O'Reilly (Chairman), Messrs T. Rndforrl, T. A. Dunlop, and GiS. Clark. Dr. Williams and Mr T,c~eantl«y (Secretary to the Trustees):.^M also present. •-. .-',.'■- .\- . .■'. ■:. * );.'''■' Dr. McGregor said hn was thoroughly pleased with the management or the hospital. It wa« admirablej'ljiii&'ln every way satisfactory, but,ihe't>uilding Was antiquated and a disgrace to such an important place as the Thames. The central portion was in a very unbound condition. He would not; recommend the Government, to aSaist the Trustees to improve or extend it It would be «a crime to waste indney on it. What was wanted in this district was a new, modern hospital,: on a new site. He would fight against any proposal to expend money on the present building. With..regard;'to the Old. Men's Home tit Tararu, he had visited it that afternoon, and nothing he hail previously seen disgusted him so much as the condition of the place. The man in clsarge did not appear to be altogether suitable for the position he held. The piggeries were swimming witli foul Water, and he wpuld be much surprised if a plague did not break out hi consequence; The twelve acres surrounding the Home were in a worse state than tliey were in twelve months ago, although with judicious working much better results might be obtained. If necessary the Charitable Aid Board could give the men some incentive to work. To keep the iceu in their present quarters would not be creditable to the Board The food, however, was good, and the beds were not bad. i What was wanted was a man to take charge who would work, There was another thing the Board should see to, and that was that, no one should be Bentt"t the Honie jintil Jhe doctor bad repotted upon ttlie osaie" Otherwise men fn want of a jobi of who wanted a spell would become inmates. Mr Dunlop hoped that Dr McGregor would help the Trustees to get the money to build the Hospital, Dr. McGregor said that at Wanganui they had a new. hospital which had cost £7000. The people tbere wanted to patch upjtha ojd; hcftpitil, but he had set bis face against it, and it was not until the people there adopted his views, and collected over £ 000 towards the cost of a new building, that the Government agreed to subsidise the amount. What the people ofi Wangauui: had done, the Thames people ought to be able to do. ' Mr Dunlop said Wanganui was a wealthy district whereas this was not, Dr. McGregor : Wanganui has agricultural resources ; but you have valuable miaes.

Mr Dunlop: What did the Wanganui hospital cost ? Dr. McGregor: £7000. If you find half the money the Government will give £ for £. I atn authorised by the Minister to say so.

Mr Duolop: Impossible, sir. Dr. McGregor : Your present building is good for ten years, yet. What you want is a good, central hospital here, and then no small institutions at f*aeroa or Waihi would be necessary. As the railway will shortly be finished any Up-Cou&try patients

would have no difficulty in being conveyed to the hospital. Mr Radfor.d: But perhaps we might be opposed by the Up-Country people. Dr. McGregor: Yes. So long as you have a bad institution here. Mr Dunlop : I quite agree with you as to the advisability of having a central hospital in this district. Mr Radford : We Bhould not get a shilling in Paeroa. Dr McGregor : Well, yoa have left ibtoo long. I was told that a person —from Kuaotunu could not obtain aduiitUnce to the hospital, as there was not room. The Rev. P. O'Reilly : Kuaotunu is not in fchis district, Dr Williams: People have telegraphed from Pkeroa to ascertain if we had rooms for them,

Mr Dunlop: What would be the cost of a new hospital 'i

Dr McGregor : About £5000. Mr Duulop : If we find £1000 will the Government provide the other £4000 ? Dr McGregor: I did not say that. The Government will provide £ for £. Mr Dunlop: Impossible. If the Government will find £4000 wo will try and find £1000. Mr Clark: We might sell the old buildings. Dr McGregor: I am authorised to offer you £ for £. Of course if you can get the Government to give more, so much the better, but as it would have to come out of what is known as unauthorised expenditure—and the Government does not like that—l don't think you will eucceed. Mr Bad/ord said the district was not situated like W»ng4nui.

Dr McGregor: If I were to lake a* a sample of Thames energy what 1 saw at the Old Men's Home to-day, I should think you were a queer lot Mr Radford : Some of the old rcen have to take their food in their bedrooms, which is not very nice. Dt McGregor: You want a new kitchen at the Home, as it is not large enough to accommodate 33 inmates. You have had a Minister of the Crown

as your representative, and altogether .have received your share of public money from the Government. The Secretary: Two applications (have been made for a subsidy of £100 in my time and two were made when Mr Bruce was secretarj, towards the cost of the additions, which ife is'estimatedwillbe £215.

Dr McGregorJ: You have never applied to me. Send in your voucher and you will get the subsidy. Mr Dunlop : I quite agree that the Hospitalshould not be situated in tlte town ; I

Dr McGregor : Your member, Mr McGowan, has often bothered me for assistance for your Hospital. In fact when in Wellington he has stuck to me like a blister, but I always tell him I will not recommend any. grant towards the cost of patching up the present building. What you want to do is to get to business, raise the money, and not talk.

A member said that there appeared to be iio hope of obtaining trie new Hospital, so that small Hospitals would be erected at Paeroa and.Waihi.

Dr McGregor : Well, if it is done it will be ever my dead body. I will fight against such a proposal to the last.

Mr Radford said the central portion of the present Hospital would not last many years. Dr McGregor: Well, gentlemen, that is all I have to say. The interview then terminated. At the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board lost evening a letter from Dr. McGregor was read. He pointed out therein that the chief internal defects of the Tai'aru Home ai'o the want of a suitable dining room and kitchen. As regards the ground in front and the farm generally he said the condition of things is discreditable. He would recommeud to the Board that n» one in future be admitted to the Home without his being examined aild certified by Dr. Williams as a suitable inmate, and that it be a condition, that every man who is able, agrees to make himself useful to the best of his ability. He further suggested that a monthly report be asked from the Doctor as to the condition of the Home and the ability of the inmates to do some useful work, and the letter earned with it a recommendation that the seVvicos of Jhs care-ta" er of the Homo be disjien^L with.

Mr McEhteer thought they could do nothing more thau suggested by Dr. Af cGregor.! ; - -. • 'The Chairman drew attention to tlie by-laws of the. Home, which already provided c that the inmates should work, provided they are in a fit state to do so.

It was resolved that the persons seeking admission to the Home be examined by Dr. Williams, and that the doctor be asked to supply a monthly report. Mr Walton asked what would be done with the inmates who now refused to work.

Tho Chairman suggested the carrying out of Dr McGregor's recommendations in their entirety.