HOSPITAL BOARDS’ CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2215, 12 June 1908, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARDS’ CONFERENCE.

(Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, June 11

The iHospitaJ Conference to-day passed tho following resolutions That voluntary contributors to separate institutions bo allowed to elect a member of the Board ol trustees. In reference tt 0 travelling expenses, it was resolved that the actual cost of locomotion and 12e Oil per day bo paid to tbo chairman and members. Clause 25 (sub-section c) was altered to road "the board, out of tho hospital and charitable aid fund, may pay the actual cost of tlio faro by .road, railway, or water conveyance incurred by any member of tho board (other than the chairman) in going to or returning from any mooting of the board or its committees, when duly summoned or in making any official visit of inspeoton to an institution when appointed to do so by the board.” That no contract, tho amount whereof exceeds £2O, shall, except in case of urgent necessity, bo mndo except after public tender. That in tho event of any small properties coming into the hands of itho board, power be given to sell them. That boards, as well ns trustees of separate institutions, shall bo empowered to borrow for certain, purposes. That provision should bo made in the Act giving boards power to recover cost of ospital maintenance out of sums due to patients under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act and its amendments. That old ago pensions be attached. That when a separate institution is to be established the promotors shall once a week for four weeks advertise in some local paper their intentions of making application to tho Minister for the purpose. Tho Conference is of opinion that no separate institution ’ should bo incorporated without tho sanction of the board of the district in which the pro- - posed institution should bo situated. That section 74, relatng to relief to persons from beyond a board’s district, should be re-east on the lines of a suggestion submitted to the In-spector-General in October, 1907, somewhat as follows: Where any person who receives relief at the hands of a board or tho trustees of a separate institution has not, at the time of first receiving such relief therefrom, _ resided for the period of one year in tho district within which such board, or trustees control the administration, the board or the trustees, as the case may be, may recover the whole cost of such relief from the trustees or the board of the district in which such person last resided for ono whole year, provided that during the time any such person is in a hospital or other institution or separate institution, or in receipt of outdoor relief in the distret within which such person has taken abode, no such person shall bo deemed to ha ve been resident therein for the purpose of establishing settlement within the meaning of this section. That interest accruing from a bequest be accu- . initiated and . applied to equipment and not applied towards the maintenance of the institution. That in a base hospital where the honorary staff is not less than six. they be given power to annually elect one of their number to represent them on the Hospital Board, the person thus elected to be an ex officio member. Mr. Bagnall said that provision should be made whereby a Magistrate could not commit a child fco an industrial schools unless the Charitable Aid Board has refused to look after it. He moved in this direction, and the motion was unanimously carried. A recommendation was also passed that boards be given powers, subject to the Minister’s approval, to sell or exchange any land or portion of land vested in them which might be unsuitable or ‘unnecessary for hospital and charitable aid purposes, the proceeds to be applied only in the acquisition of land or the extension or alteration of buildings for hospital and charitable aid purposes. Mr. Tapper submitted a series of motions having for their object the granting of extended powers to Charitable Aid Boards to 'protect women and children, and also to re move them from unsuitable environment. . ■ Dr. Valintino promised to give the suggestions careful consideration. Dr. Valintine made another pronouncement with reference to the question of subsidies to Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He said he was sorry be liad nothing definite to Eut before the delegates. He had oped to have made some authoritative statement on the subject, but at present was not in a position to do so. Ho would tell them frankly what he hoped to accomplish. This was reduotion absolutely of any subsidy on outdoor relief. Speaking generally, he did not see the need of making afiy reduction on hospitals, which, for tho most part, were well administered, and there was little : suggestion of undue extravagance Such was not the case in regard to charitable institutions, some of which were providing appliances and comforts which were rather in excess of, what was absolutely required for invalids. He maintained, with regard to outdoor relief, that institutions were putting recipients in a far better position with regard to the comforts of life than the struggling laborer. It was tbo struggling man who had to pay towards the keep of these people who were placed in better circumstances and conditions than himself and family. He wished ho had more eloquence to denounce the system, of outdoor, relief and tho indiscriminating way in which it was being given. Ho quoted an extract by Judge Ashcroft from his review of the English poor law system. He thought they had a lot to learn from it. Ho felt quite strongly on this, and said he was certain that no substantial reduction. in the cost of outside relief would be made until the Government subsidy was withheld. “It is in tins direction that I shall move and use my efforts as long as I hold my present position,” declared the speaker. One delegate pointed out that there was no distinction in the Bill between hospital and charitable aid. , Mr. A. Bain said ho was afraid that if the suggestion was carried out it would not do much good. Instead of making a reduction, it would result in increased cost. A number of outdoor recipients of relief received 2s ba and 3s per week under the present system.' If these grants were abolished, these peoplo would have to go into the homes, and it would cost tlio ratepayers a good deal more to keep them there. . The chairman, in replying to a question, said his proposals would not affect the homes. Mr. Bagnall: If you do not you will be in the wrong track. . The chairman: If there is no alternative but going, to the homes they would make a big struggle to keep themselves. . . .. , The delegates unanimously dissented with this view. , ~ Mr. Bagnall remarked that tlio L«o----vernment'sliould undertake the maintenance of children .who were committed to an industrial school. me commitments wore made without ieference to the Boards, yet they had to contribute 7s 6d per week towards the children’s upkeep until they wero 15 years of age. . , . Mr. Kirk agreed with these views, and remarked that last year the contributions by the Wellington Trustees in this connection amounted to £2200. Charitable aid must be cut A long discussion ensued upon the matter, most of the sneakers hein„ against the reduction of the Bilteidy. Canon Jordan, in condemning the proposal, said if subsidies were reduced, it would bring about in New Zealand the present-'curse of Ireland, the abominable workhouse system, andhe fid he would not live to see the dav when this was brought about Eventually, on the motion of Bellringer, it was decided to mend that the Government subsidy remain as at present. Dr. Valintine: I haven t done with Mr. Norris moved, and Air. C»akoway seconded, “That this meeting, considers that, if the Government reduces the subsidy on outdoor relief they should take over tho cost. or maintenance of all children committed to industrial schools.” After discussion, the motion was withdrawn. Pr,‘ Yalintine-gaid it seemed to

him that he was pln-.ying a lono hand, hut ho was not quite tho heartless person some delegates would have them believe. It was impossible for him in his present position to toll thorn the whole of his scheme. Nothing was more infeotious than pauperism, and at tho present time in New Zealand they had paupers of .tho third generation. Tho sooner children were relieved from the environment. of pauperism, the move likely they wero to become dutiful citizens of the State.