HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD

West Coast Times, Issue 13232, 8 June 1904, Page 4

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Chaiitable Aid Board was held at the Board room yestarday. Preßent — Messrs Tait, (cbairaian), Clarke, M'Guigan, Jone*, Ferguson, Byrne, Clifton a--.d Bruce.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the pievious meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Outward correspondence was read and approved and inward correspondeuco was read and dealt w.th as follows :—: —

From the Totara Hcpita' Committee recommending accounts amounting to £55 9d for payment. — Eeceived and accounts passed; Forwarding cheques for £8 15a pensions and £6 from pvving patients. — Eeceived; Forwarding the Surgeon Superintendent's report, dated 31sb May for the past month us follows : Admitted 1, discharged nil, remaining in hospital 10. — Received; recommending the usual charitable aid allowances. — Approved; also forwarding the resignation of Mr and Mrs JSJissen, the steward and mat"or.

Mr a •! Mrs A!is-'en in resigning heartily thanked the Board for their continuous courtesy and kind treatment during the past ten years.

The Totara Committr e in foi warding tha resignation did so with the greatest regret and the Board also heard of it with regret. The Chairman eaid the resignation had come in without explanation and he asked the members from that district, Messrs Ferguion and Bruce whether they could give any information on the subject. Mr Ferguson Eaid he had heard rumoure of S'lme frictiou between the SurgeoD Superintendent and the Wardaaian and he thought the Board should in justice to all parties concerned enquire further into the subject. He would move in that direction.

Mr Bruce in reply to the Chairman said that he had not had ono word with the Surgeon Superintendent og the sub ject. He had asked Mr Missen if tlu j r« was any reason for their resignations and he stated that for some time paat Mrs Missen's health had not been too good, andshe was getting tired of it and wished to retire. He also eaid that he had not got on too well with the Surgeon Supeiinteudent for some t'nae past, but the first reason given was on account of Mrs Missen's health. That was all the speaker knew of the matter. Aa for outsidf talk though he lived in Ross, he hao heaid nothing of it.

Mr Clatke thought they should not p:iy any attention to outside gospip, but it was their duty as a Board to see if there was any material reason why they lost the services of such tried and valued servants of the institution aa tho Wardsman and Matron bad proved to be during their long term of office. They had always 1 earned the highest praise during theii connection with the hospital, which the} h.ul always kept in an admirable manner

The Chairman agreed with the Lst speaker that It was adrisable to refer to those who could inform them on the subject. They had nothing before them t > show that there -yreie any but private rensons for the Wardsman's and Matron.--resignation, and no member of the Boatd wished to impute any motives to anjotie

Mr Fergusoi:— Certainly not.

Ultimately a resolution was earned on the motion of Messrs Fi rguson and Uiarke t)i; t tne Wardsman's and Matron's re" Mgsu.tion be refcircd hack to the Comtniituu with .i rtquest that tbry furirsh any ir.fomvatiou within their knowledge on i be subject, and that a similar request b-iuudetj the Surgeon Superintendent and to the Wardsman, thertception of the resignations to be held over imanw'iile.

From the Kumara Uo3pital Comautt j e recommending accoun's amoui t ug tj £6 for payment, togei'uer with the usu. 1 charitaMo aid grant 0 . — Accounts passed and r. commeudaticu.x appmved.

From the Treasurj Department, Wellington, notifying an amount of £286 11s Id i Liced to the credit of the Board.— — R ceived.

From Ross Borough Counc 1, foi warding £7 G;J BJ, the usual riimittance. — lteceived.

From tiro nx-patients, making sa'.isfiictor,\ arrangements for the payment of surrs owing by them.— Keceived.

Fiora fc l ie Trefiaurer, recommendin;.' accounts amounting to £336 3 6J h r puyment. — Received and approved.

A lengthy conversitional discussion as to the advL-abJenets of grai^tirg charitable aid to certain destitute persons c sued, after which the Hoard adjourned.