HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 4

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

. THE EXTENSION SCHEME. The Hospital Trustees met yesterday, when there woro present—The Hon. C' M. Luke (chairman), Messrs. R. Lee, R. C. Kirk, -6. London, F. T. Moore, J. Trevor, G. Nash, and H. Cook. It was decided to sond a letter of conT. M. M'Menamen, of Terawhiti, died reT. M. M'Menamen, of Terawtiti, died recently, leaving a bequest of £500 to the hospital. ■ . / ,-''.. The Secretary's fortnightly returns stated that there were 195 patients in the main hospital, 110 males and.Bs females. In the Victoria Hospital there were 20 males and 18 females, And in tho Scddon Hospital :14 males and 6 females'/ making a grand total of 253 patients. •'•'■■■ ■ -..-:-. ...... The statement of accounts showed a credit balance of £749 2s. lid. EXTENSION SCHEME. Recommendations of tho committoo were approved as follow:—1. That competitive architectural designs of improvement to the general hospital building be invited, the scheme to embrace an extension capable of providing equal to double tho accommodation at present afforded, but arranged -so that a section of the improvement can bo made from time to time till the whole design is completed. Provision to be made for two retiring rooms for convalescent patients, male and fomalo, the rooms to servo also as reading rooms. 2. That two prizes for designs be offered, ono of £75 for first, and £50 for second, and that the £75, being the first prize, bo deducted from the commission coming due for the carrying out of the work. 3. That Dr. Young bo granted a fortnight's leave of absence 4. That tho resignation of Sister -Helen (Speedy) be acceptedlwith regret. •... . ..', .'...-..

\ There was an discussion on tho proposals in connection with the building scheme. (. "The position "of the hospital is simply most deplorable," declared tho chairman. Last month, ho stated, 35 applicants for admission woro turned away, and last week five or six were sent away because there was iuo room for them. . A man suffering; from rheumatism, was carted round for hours;in a cart in an ondcavour to procure for him admission. The best that could bo dono was to reserve a bed for him, which another patient was to. leave.in a .fow days! timo. This had been dono repeatedly during the recent epidemic. Whothor or not tho local bodies' appreciated their efforts, or. thought that they had been extravagant, was of very little importance, so long.as they carried out their chief concern of caring for the needy sick of the community. Mr. London said that Dr; Ewon had reported two or three times on tho necessity for providing further accommodation. To do the work in piece-meal fashion would bo a mistake.

■ Mr. Trevor thought that the present members, who had been on tho Board some time, knew the requirements of the institution, and it would take some time for their successors to reach the same stago of knowledge. Ho was opposed to putting off the matter till tho now Board was elected. Even if they pressed on now, it would bo the middle of next winter before tho new accommodation would bo.ready... .. Mr. Moore felt sure that the local bodies who-protested against extensions were the, smallest., contributors to the .revenue, and provided only a fourth or fifth of the money for the maintenance of the hospital. If thoso small bodies were to alter the membership of the Board, and hamper the progress of tho institution; there would be a public clamour that would cause the law to be amended which gave the small contributors so much power. OTHER BUSINESS. This being the last meeting of the present Trustees, Mr. Kirk expressed his gratification at the way the Board had worked together during tho year, and thoir appreciation of tho conspicuous ability, hard work, and constant tact of the chairman. Tho Chairman ' said that he had never known a time when tho Trustees had dovoted moro time and attention to tho hospital's affairs than had been given by the present Board. The following return was tabled of permanent works carried out from October 1, 1905, to October 31, 1907 :-r-Erection and furnishing of Seddon Hospital and shelters, £3440; machinery and additions to laundry, £705; installing freezing. plant, £7-96; improvements to lavatpries, £540; additions to doctor's house, £135; providing lift to No. 6 Ward, £76; roading .Revans Street sections, £710; roading, filling, and levelling grounds, £585; erecting wall and balustrading, £335; renovating and furnishing Frasor AVard, £383; erecting and furnishing two extra shelters, £373; laying-out of grounds, £560- sundry other werks, £1500; total, £10.138. Mr. Moore, who had asked for the return, in order to satisfy local bodies as to the way in which their contributions were spent, said that ho thought it showed a just and reasonable expenditure.