Hospital Board

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 42, 15 September 1888, Page 3

Hospital Board

A meeting of the above board was held oh Thursday last. PresentMessrs Beckett (chair), Sanson, Beunie, Macarthur, Remington, Arkwright, Robertson, and West! After the minutes had been read and confirmed the accounts amounting to £200, were passed for payment; A letter was received from Mr Keeling, Town clerk of Palmerston North, stating that the Council only undertook to distribute charitable aid ,in their immediate district. The Council also claimed the sum-of £20 for charitable aid rendered to a Mrs Dickel. The claim was held over till next meeting. Mr West read a letter from the Palmerston Borough Council asking for an inquiry into the management of the Hospital. Mr West said none of the complainants had interviewed him, and he moved as a representative of the Council that an inquiry was desirable generally) and into the cases mentioned particularly. Mr Macarthur in seconding said he did not anticipate much result. The woman who had died said the matron had told her that she was only a pauper and could not expect better treatment. He wished this made public, so that the officials of the Hospital might know that it was nothing to them, whether people paid or not, they were all entitled to the same treatment. As to the grumbling, he knew there was always complaint in hospitals, but it is well that officials should be reminded that they exist for the patients, and not the patients for them. He seconded the motion for the reasons given, and because he hoped the inquiry would do good to the institution. Mr Sanson agreed with Mr Macarthur as to the status of the patients, but he should have liked to have heard how the inquiry was te be conducted. The patients and officers must be brought face to face somehow. The motion was carried. Mr Remington .moved that the erection of a new hospital be proceeded with forthwith, Mr Robertson seconded the motion. Mr Macarthur asked the estimated cost of the building according to the plans. He believed it was £5000. Mr Bamber said the estimates was £3500, giving accommodation for 40 beds. He had drawn up a list of the levy this would entail on each body: — j

Mr Macarthur intended to take a division on the subject. There was no doubt they would have a division -of the district as there was.a majority in the House in favour of giving districts the power of separation. It would be unadvisable to erect a Hospital when the feeling was as it is, and, in addition to that, he believed that several of the local bodies would refuse to pay the levy. If the separation took place they would have paid a levy for a Hospital that would be of no use to them in future. In whatever Act was brought in he would try and have a clause inserted to provide that money spent on a Hospital in this way should be considered in the adjustment of accounts. If separation took place the local bodies left would -have to support a Hospital much larger then they required. Mr Arkwright agreed with Mr Macarthur in delaying the matter. On the division being taken it resulted as follows:—Ayes 4 Noes 4. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the Noes, in order to allow the matter to be brought up again. — Herald.

£ 8. D. Rangitikei County ... 352 14 0 Manawatu „ 231 15 0 Wanfcanui „ 214 2 6 Waitotara „ 197 5 0 Murton ... 55 2 6 Feilding 55 2 6 Palmerston 102 0 0 Manawatu Koad Board 146 7 6 1 Manchester Road Board 152 5 0 Kiwitea Road Board ... 49 3 6 •'Haieombe Road Board... 10 10 0 Wanganui Borough ... 232 10 0 1798 16 6 Government Subsidy 1798 16 6 3597 13 0