"A NEW INCUBUS."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 460, 19 March 1909, Page 7

"A NEW INCUBUS."

CARE OF CHRONIC INVALIDS. QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY. Following upon a recent ruling by the In-spector-General of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine), the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board finds itself confronted with a i'lew responsibility, namely, the upkeep of the Victoria Hospital for Chronic Invalids, a matter of some £2000 per annum, less £200 estimated collections of maintenance fees. Members of tho board, at tho meeting yesterday, expressed themselves as being disinclined to shoulder this now burden, which appeared as an item on tho estimates for the ensuing year. Some light was thrown on tho general question by a report by Mr. R. C. Kirk, who was unable to attend, but had requested that tho report bo read at the meeting. The Ghairmsn's Report. By way of preface, the report stated that "the all-round reduction in the expenditure on outdoor relief was extremely gratifying; tho special efforts of all distributing local bodies to deal with only deserving cases and to the extent only of real necessities, have no doubt largely contributed to this result. I am afraid the prospects for this winter are not too bright, and it is reasonable to expect some increase in expenditure during the current year. Mombers of tho board will notico that for tho first time an item appears on tho estimates providing for the maintenance of chronic invalids. Tho chronic invalids' homo at tho hospital dealing with forty paticuts has boon heretofore maintained out of moneys provided by tho Wellington District Hospital Board. When some Wairarapa cases wero sent to this home, the question was raised whether their maintenance should bo charged to tho Wairarapa Hospital District or to tho Charitable Aid 15oard, and on tho matter being reforrod to the Inspector-General, Dr. Valintine decided that chronic cases wero not proper subjects for hospital treatment, and should be supported by the charitable aid fund. The Wellington Hospital Trustees havo estimated the gross cost of maintenance of the chronic invalids (forty patients) to be £2000, and estimate to collect in respect of these £200 in maintenance fees. This latter estimate I havo every confidence will prove to be under the mark."

It was explained by the secretary (Mr. George Willis), that Mr. Kirk had, since receiving the Inspector-General's ruling on the point, ascertained that tho other thirtyeight cases in the hospital, being of a similar naturo to those previously inquired into, came within tho scope of the InspcctorGoueral's ruling, and tho item on the csi timates had been assessed on that basis. Voices of Dissent. One member remarked that tho board was being saddled with "a new incubus." Tho Hon. A. W. Hogg dissented from tho Inspector-General's ruling. The Victoria Home for Incurables was no now thing, he said, and it was strange that at this time of day the-board should be called upon to disburse moneys in 'support of an institution over which it hat! no administrative control. They might just as well be expected to assume the financial responsibilities of the consumptive and general hospitals. The county should not bo asked to undcrtako the extra expenditure. It was within his own knowledge that patients from the Masterton district had to guarantee payment, either by tho local body, or relatives, beforo being admitted for treatment. The assumption of this new responsibility, iio continued, would add 25 per cent, to the present payments of the contributing local bodies. Ho was of opinion that the Inspector-General's ruling was not intended to apply to all the chronic invalids at tho Victoria Home. Charitable aid was intended for the indigent poor, the old and helpless, not for sucli as were admitted to tho Home for Incurables. Ho felt suro that the local bodies would support cases iu their own districts without remonstrance.

Mr. M'Laren, M.l\, was afraid that tho board would have no administrative control with regard to this liability. They should certainly see to it that no liability be undertaken with respect to any particular cases other than those of absolute distress. Must Pay Either Way. Mr. Cohen: "If we don't pay the monoy this way, wo shall havo to pay it to tho trustees." Mr. M'Laren: "Better to pay them, and free ourselves from responsibility." Tho Hon. A. \V. Hogg disagreed. Why should tho country people bo asked for increased contributions towards an institution over which they had no control? On behalf of tho county ratepayers ho protested against the imposition of this now burden. Tho local bodies would kick hard if the item were allowed to pass, and there would be endless trouble in the future.

Ultimately, it was decided to adjourn the discussion, in order to permit of the attendance of Messrs. Kirk and Buchanan. The meeting accordingly adjourned until noon to-day.