ASHBURTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11717, 6 June 1916, Page 2

ASHBURTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY ■MEETIJfGk The monthly meeting of the Ashhurton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday; present—Messrs C. J. Harper (acting-chairman), W. J. Dicliie, J. Cairn a. (t. W. Andrews, H. J. Harrison, C. Beid and F. W. Watt. Leave of absence was granted tho chairmar. (Mr Hugo Friedlandev), who is leaving l on. a visit to Sydney this week. Mr Fricdlander went in a written report in which lie stated that during the month fifteen cases of infectious diseases had been reported, including- diphtheria, meningitis, infantile paralysis, enteric fever, cfcickon-pox and tuberculosis. Mrs David Thomas liad donated to the hospital library Bj number of bound volumes of the " Ilhistrated London News." The District Health Officer had notified the board that.he could not continue the existing arrangements for tho inspection and fumigating of houses, and it would be necessary for the board' to appoint an independent inspector for the Asnburtou district.

Mr Friedlander also referred in his report to the remarks zntido by Mr Harper at tho last meeting in connection with ilia largo sums of money which had been spent on tho hospital and its upkeep during the past sis years. Mr Friedlander stated that from 1901 to 1910 tho Ashburton County Council and tho Ashburton Borough Council hud reepcrded to a levy made bv tho then North Canterbury Charitable Aid to the sum of £(5701 33 2d., With this amount (hero was a Government subsidy of £1 for £l. that' the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board was the mea'ns of receiving from the consolidated revenue an additional £6701 3s '2d, making a total of £13,102 Is -Id, and including another £llOO from another source, a grand totax ol £14,00'2 Is 4d. The Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's expenditure for six years, or einco tho board camo into existence, was £2744 18s Bd, or a direct, and indirect saving to tho ratepayers of the county and borough of £11.757 7s 7d. The board had spent in bringing- the hospital up to date £10,652 7s lid, or about £IOOO less than tho amount directly and indirectly saved to tho Ashburton district. Ho hoped they would seo that any suggestion which might have been made about extravagant expei.diture oil behalf of tho beard was not justified. , ' Tho acting-chairman &aid he was sorry 3ir Friedlander had gono into the matter, a-s there was no use in bringing- it up now. Still, it had cost tho county council £"2500 more under the new system than under the old one. Tliey had an up-to-dato hospital, it wa-s true, or what they considered an up-to-date mstitution, though sonic of the medical men and others were not satisfied. Mr Beid contended that tho _ separation from tho North Canterbury district was one of tho best things that had ever happened, and all tho money thoy had spent on the hosmt&l had been well spent. Tho treasurer reported that tho credit balanco at tho bank was £943 7s 7d, and tho | receipts since tho last meeting had amounted to £327 IB? 3d. _ , Tho medical superintendent reported that on April 30 thero were 27 patients in the hospital, 28 had been admitted during the month, '7 had been discharged, and on May 31 there wero 23 remaining in tho institution. Thero had been four deaths. Mr Dickie broug-ht up tho question of «■ tuberculosis patient, who, ho said, had been Ben* to the Palmerston houtli Sanatorium practically in a _ dyjng condition, and said it was quite time that Ashburton made some arrangements of its own for treating such patient?. Paimerston South was too far away, and it would be better to make arrangomonts for having tuberculosis p&tifnts trc&tod in Christcv.Virch, Other members expressed similar views. A discussion took plfl.ro on the condition of tho septic tank at tho hospital, and it was decided to visit the j institution with <i view to taking steps to | reniody tho defects or to put down a new I acptic tflnk. It was decided to invite the District Health Officer (D: Chesson) to meet the board and to chooso a site for the proposed new fever wa'd. which was estimated to cost from £I4OO to £ISOO. Accounts amounting to £ll9 3s were passed for payment.