WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1557, 15 May 1903, Page 2

WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD

The usual monthly meeting was held in Hamilton yesterday. Present : Messrs Primrose (Chairman), Viekers, Mills, Bailey, Clarke, O'Connor, Wheeler, Fisher, Ring, and Bellamy. Assistance in Kitchen. -Dr. Douglas wrote statiug that assistance iu the kitchen was absolutely necessary. No applications were received in answer to advertisements for a kitchen maid, and they had had to engage a woman at £1 per week and found.—lt was decided to advertise for a kitchen maid at 16s per week and keep. Nuks;no Staff.—Dr. Douglas reported that Nurse Stanley had been attacked with typhoid, and would not be able to resume duty for two months. In the meantime, after consultation with the Chairman, Miss Bulford had been engaged as Probationer. The Doctor explained that this was a saving to the Board, as in the event of engaging a temporary nurse the Board had to pay £2 a week, whereas a Probationer only received £ls a year. It was a good step also, as it was within his knowledge that changes in tlio nursing staff would scon take place, which .would cause two or three vacancies. The action of the Chairman was approved. Leasing ov Sections.—lt was decided to leave endowment sections in the hands of Messrs Davis and Co. for lease at the upset prices. Progress Payment.—A progress payment of £l2O for the office building was authorised to be made to Mr Murray. Resignation.—Mr K. W. Dyer wrote resiguing his seat on the Board on the ground that he was no longer a member of the Hamilton Borough Council.—The resignation was accepted with regret, and the Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Dyer to that effect. Mr Carroll's Guarantee.—Mr Swarbrick advised the Board that the wording of the letter guaranteeing payment im* plied that it was given as a private individual.—lt was decided to write Mr Carroll asking for payment, and to inform him that if the amount of claim was not paid legal proceedings would be taken. The claim is about £42. Surgeon's Salary.—Dr Douglas wrote asking the Board to consider the making of an addition to his salary.— The Chairman gave notice to move iu the matter at next meeting. Surgeon's Ueport.—Dr. Douglas reported: Number of patients iu Hospital at last report, 25 males, 11 females ; admitted since, 16 males, 5 females ; deaths, 2 males; discharged, 17 males, 7 females ; remaining at date, 22 males, 7 females. Nurse Stanley has contracted typhoid fever. The case is a very mild one. Have engaged a probationer as being cheaper than having a temporary nurse, Financial Statement.—The Secretary submitted the following statement : Amounts due by contributing bodies, Piako County Council, £670 j AVaikato County Council, £321 12s 6d ; Waipa County Council, £250; Koglan County Council, £246 10s ; Hamilton Borough Council, £47 10s ; Cambridge Borough Council, £7B ; Te Aroha Borough Council, £75 ; total, £1,988 12s C5rJ ; subsidy, £1,9C0; total, £3,4SS 12s Ud ; bank balance, £l4O ; balance as above, £3,438 12s Gd ; fees estimated, £550 : rents, £IOO ; total, £4,2/8 12s 6rt ; less accounts to pay, £405 Us ; balance credit, £3873 IsGd. Public Bodies' Contributions.—Mr Fisher called attentiou to the fact that there was a large sum due from contri--butiug bodies yet the Board had not euough money in hand to meet its liabilities, and moved that the Secretary write to the public bodies requesting immediate payment.—The Chairman exs plained that the Board had been in the habit of allowing the contributions to be p.id by instalments, although the money was due immediately.—Mr Wheeler seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for payments:—R. F. Sandes, £3B 5s 8d : J. Taylor, £l9 3s 5d ; J. Bettley, £3B 14s 2d ; Currie, £lO 19* lid: Mrs Barker, £3 8s ; Dr. Roberts, £2 2s; Dr. Brewis, £8 8s; Industrial school, £25 7s ; Wlidman and Lyell, £4 2s ; Waikato Times, £3 13a ; J. E Hammond, £4 7s 9d ; guß, £5 7s 7d ; Wi'ley, £2 5s Sd ; Gilmour, lis 6d ; Porter and Co , 9s ; H. H. Howden, £1 St : Cleave, 10s ; Nathan, £1 7s ; Parr Bros., £1 3s 7d ; chamber, £3 ; Hallenstein, £3 8s sd. Patients From Outside Districts.— The following letter was received by the Chairman from Dr McGregor under date April 30 :—' You will remember at our recent interview that I, ou the part of the Government, undertook to do my best to get the Kawhia and outlying districts iucluded in your rating area, on the condition that iu the meantime things should go on as before, and that with regard to the Rotorua district you professed yourself to be satisfied with a payment of 2s per day lor all patients sent to the Waikato Hospital by us. I shall be thankful if you will write me a letter confirming the above.'--The Chairman said that Dr McGregor's interpretation of the conversation was not the same as his, aud he had instructed the secretary to reply as follows:—'I am directed by Mr Primrose to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 31, aud in reply to say that his recollectiou of what transpired at the interview mentioned is as follows :—You undertook to recommend the Government to have in eluded the counties of Kawhia, Ka3t und West Taupo in the Waikato Hospital District, these districts being now specially excluded by the same Act as defines the Waikato Hospital District. Nothing was agreed on as to ' in the meantime things should go on as before.' It was out of his power to promise anything of the kind, for the reason that our accommodation is restricted—only sufficient to cope with cases coming in from contributing districts. Re Rotorua patients, he suggests th"*; the Government should subsidise the Board to the amount of 2s per day for all patients treated from that town or district. This ho understood you to say was fair and reasonable, and that you would he prepared to recommend the satno. Hoping some equitable eo.ution of the matter will soon he urrived at.'—The further consideration of the matter was adjourned pending Dr McGregor's reply.