HOSPITAL BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 12

HOSPITAL BOARD.

FIRST MEETING. ' MR. AITKEN CHAIRMAN. The newly-elected Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held its first mooting at Mr. G. Willis's offico, Johnston, Street, at noon yesterday. Dr. T H. A. Valintino, Inspector-General of ■V.ospitals and Charitable Aid, presided. With the exception of, Mr. D. M'Laren, wlio is'out of town, ,811 tho members wero ivesent, namely :—Messrs. J. ! G. W. Aitken, H. Baldwin, E. C. Kirk, J. Smith, D. Robertson, J. Godber, j J. Dovine, J. Trevor, A. H. Hindmarsh, G. T. London, J. E. Fitzgerald, B. R. Gardener, W. Tompsitt, J. AV; M'Ewan, W. Galloway, and F. T. Mooro, Miss Richmond, Rev. H. Van Staveren, and Rev. W. A. Evans. . s Mr. Devine moved that Mr. Aitken bo elected chairman. He pointed out that Mr. Aitken had.been returned at the head of the poll, and that as Mayor of Wellington for many years he had displayed great administrative ability. The electors had placed Mr. Aitken at the head of the poll, and the board, by choosing him as chairman, would hi furthering their wishes. The Rev. H. .Van Staveren, in seconding the motion, said the citizens would be pleased if the board ratified their choice. ,■ ■ '. Mr. J. \V. M'Ewan proposed Mr: R^. C. Kirk as chairman. He said th'at Mr. Kirk had had long e_xperienc6 in hospital and charitable aid administration, and experience was essential for tho position in question. He had nothing to say against the gentleman whom Mr. Devinehad proposed, but th fact of his return at the head of; tlv poll was no argument, as it applied to only ono poll out of several. , Mr. F. : T.. Moore seconded the' nomination of Mr. Kirk.

A ballot was taken, and, 13 votes were cast for Mr.' Aitken, and 4 for Mr. Kirk. ■:" : . Mr. Aitken then took the chair, and thanked the members for electing him to the position,, which he bad not sought. The board had before" it a very stupendous work which' 'would take a great deal of time, energy, and thought.". Although he had ' never served on the Hospital Board, .the Charitable Aid-Board, or the -Hospital Trustees, he had watched their : administration, and he hoped that when the present board had to lay down its burden,, it would have fulfilled its responsibilities;' '". ":. (■;'[ ','.'. :'■ \'. .'': Mr. Kirk' congratulated Mr. Aitken on. his appointment to the chair. Everyone, recognised Mr. 1 Aitken as. an ideal, chairman,'and! no one'more clearly than himsolf. .!His: devotion, to duty.' was such, that he would' in a very short time master the details of administration. .- ':-.■' Temporary Appoiritmentß. v It' was unanimously resolved: ) "That Mr. G. Willis be appointed temporarily to the position' of secretary.:;to the. board." ■:'■.■'":.■'■.'-■' :'■ '■■'■■/:'■■■■■. ■;:;■; It was ".respired,- on the motiou of Mr. Kirk)' seconded:.by .Mr. ■ Godber:' "That a , committee be.set up to. formulate suggestion's in .regard: to''-'-the;-best policy;to;be; adbptcsd.by the bbardvfori initiating its-, work and .controlling ;the different institutions under. its. -juris'dicy tionj such committee to report, to a' special meeting of the board, to be called by the-chairman as soon as possible." , ■.:■-,•■' The following committee was appointed:—The chairman and Messrs. Van Staveren, Evans, Smith,- London, Devine, Trevor,. Godber, Kirk, Baldwin, and Gardener.- : -. -Mr. Kirk -moved a further, motion to let the Hospital Trustees. . Benevolent Trnstees/ Hospital Board, Charitable Aid Board, and'local bodies to continue to administer the institutions and distribute charitable aid, pending the consideration of the report of the above committee. ■ ~ The Rev; :H. Van Staveren urged that the administration Bhoiild be con- : fined to' members of the present'board. He moved' an amendment with this object.- .; ;-' ;■ '■ ■■'.-■ ■■'.. ■■■ ■ : . The amendment was defeated and Mr. Kirk's inotionwas carried. ; . '-. The chairman, and Messrs. Godber, Smith, Devine,, Kirk,' Gardener,' and Tompsitt were-elected as a temporary committee to control the Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium. "■'.

It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr..Kirk, that the officers of the expiring boards and of the institutions controlled by _them be retained in. their- present positions pending report of the Policy Committee. The following were appointed as a temporary Finance Committee , !— The chairman, and Messrs. Kirk, Robertson, Devine, and Godber, with Mr. Devine as treasurer.- • .-■■ • ■ .-"■■■.