HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2365, 22 January 1915, Page 7

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

CHARITABLE AID MATTERS MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD The Her. W. A. Evans (ohairman), Mrs. M'Laren, Revs. J. K. Elliott, H. van Stavereri, Dr; F. W. Mackenzie, Messrs'; D. Campbell, G. J. Petherick, 3. W. M'Ewen, John Smith, F. Castle, \V. Galloway, H. Freeman, D. Robertson, and D. M'Laren were present at the monthly meeting of the Wellington Hospitar and Charitable Aid Board, held yesterday afternoon. Hospital Matters. The Hospital Committee reported:— "That the resignation of Dr. Farquhar Mathieson,' house surgeon, and Senior Nurses M. Craigie, G. L. Faulke, and M. .Werder be received with regret.V, ."That, the services of Mr. George G. Robertson, senior medical student, be retained as clinical clerk, at the Wellington Hospital." "That the request of St. John Ambulance Brigade (Wellington division) to place their trophies in fyiew in tne Hospital be granted, but no responsibility be accepted in connection therewith." "That the house steward has been authorised to accept a quotation for the supply of 200 boxes of gutter (at Is. Id. per lb.)" "That a vote of thanks be passed to tne many generous donors of cheques, goods, and toys at Christmas time, and to the matron, the nursing and medical staffs, and all concerned in the decorations for the festive occasion." "That a special letter of thanks be sent to the anonymous donor, per Mr. A. Dorset, for a cheque for £50. to be divided between the Victoria Home for Chronic Invalids and the Hospital Convalescent special fund accounts." "That accounts for the month amounting to £8506 14s. lid. be passed for payment." "That applications have been invited for the position of physician on the honorary staff (vice Dr. K. Fyffe, resigned), and for the position of motor ambulance driver (vice E. W. Taybor resigned)." "That the house steward, Mr. L. H. Fox be granted his annual leave;"

Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium.—The following are the statistics for the month of December, 1914:— Otaki Hospital—Nine admitted, 0 discharged; under treatment, 6 males and 4 females. Otaki Sanatorium.—Fivo admitted, 6 discharged; under treatment, lS.femaleß and 13 males. Accounts amounting to £666 2s. 3d. were passed for payment. Public Health Committee. The Public Health Committee reported :—That' during the month ended January _ 9 'the health inspectors' report having made 44 • investigations after , infectious diseases, 60 disinfections, 60 sanitary inspections, and 60 revisits. 1 Thirty-nine samples have been taken under-the Sale of Food arid Drugs Act. 'and several inspections .of food under the Act'. The Magistrate's Court has also been attended on two occasions. Ten special disinfections have been made. Three whole houses, two motif-cars, and part of a convent have been dißinfeoted. i Charity for the Young. Mr. D. Campbell, chairman of the Charitable Aid Committee, 1 said that a growing problem that should be dealt with was the increase in the number of ohildren who .were either being kept in homes or boarded out'. Not only was the increasing, but the. cost,: of keeping them'was^'Slsb^Tii&eKag.*-; 1 It" was a very serious matter, 1 and he thought a sub-committee should be formed to. go into the whole question. .. : .The Bev. JY-K. Elliott said- it had always been a matter of serious consideration since he had been a member

the board.' There was never a meet ing without the nauseating thought occurring that the charitable aid was being given too much to young people, when it was really meant for old and indigent persons. In many cases those receiving oharity. were_ young men, whowere well able to shift for themselves. Mr. Elliott also deprecated the complaisance with which' mothers parted with their children without any 'compunotion or sorrow. It used to be considered that a woman would undergo any toil or labour rather than part with her ohildren, but it was the experience that they only too often met women of exactly the reverse character, who seemed to be devoid of all maternal sentiment and feeling. Mr. H. Baldwin held they were helpless in the matter. They had to take all children that were committed, and really had no power to inquire into their condition.

Mr. Campbell was about to move that a sub-committee be set up to go into the matter, but once'more it was pointed out by the Rev. H. van Staveren that such a committee could do nothing in the matter. ' ' Finance and Property. The Finance, Property, arid Policy Committee recommended:—That the accounts for the month be passed for payment; £ b. d.. Wellington Hospital 3506 14 11 Charitable Aid and Ohiro Home 1623 5 9 Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium 666 2 3 Head Office, Public Health, etc. , ' 241 4 9 Total 6987 7 8 . It was resolved that the board adhere to its resolution adopted at its meeting held on December 17: "That the rental and valuation of properties held under sub-lease, from. Mr. James Lockie cannot be fixed until within a neriod of six months of the date of the expiry of present lease to Mr. Lookie (viz., May, 1909)."