HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1483, 16 November 1878, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

CONFERENCE WITH COLONEL WHITMORE. A few days ago tho members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board had a conference with Colonel Whitmore (the Colonial Secretary) upon the subject of the management of the hospital and charitable aid. Nothing definite was arranged upon that occasion, and it was agreed that they should again wait upon him on his return from the South, and place a definite statement as to how they stood before him. The Board accordingly waited upon him yesterday morning in tho Provincial Council Chamber, when the following members w T ere present : —Their Worships the Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham, Dr. Turnbull, and Messrs J. E. Brown and W. Montgomery. The secretary, Mr March, then proceeded to read the following statement: — Christchurch, 13th November, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have had under their careful consideration the questions you submitted to them on tho 7th instant, and I now beg to furnish you with the following implies in tho order in which they were submitted : Question The estimated expenditure of hospitals for the current year, showing contributions expected to be derived from patients? Reply —Estimated expenditure based on actual expenditure of four months of current year ... <£5500 10 6 House Surgeon’s salary, eight months at .£250 166 13 4 Honorarium to acting House Surgeon, seven months 60 0 0 Contingencies 272 16 2 Total estimated expenditure ... .£6OOO 0 0

Estimated receipts for current year... ... ... .£450 0 0 Question Groups of municipalities and counties which should elect a Hospital Board ? Kopiy—The Board are of opinion that the district should comprise all those municipalities and counties lying between the Rangitata and the Hurunui.

Question —The principle on which contributions should be made by each municipality and county ? Reply—The Board are of opinion that the principle on which contributions should be made for the current year to the hospital should be on the basis of population. Question —The question of charitable aid, and the best means of administering the same ? He ply—The Board are of opinion that the district for the charitable aid and Orphanage should be the same as that decided on for the hospital district, aud that the administration be carried on by the same Board. The Board estimate the expenditure on charitable aid for the current year at .£9OOO, aud for the Orphanage .£2OOO. The receipts from the Orphanage are estimated at <£24o.

I have also the honor to furnish you with a copy of the following resolution which was passed by the Board, viz.:— “ That the replies given to the questions asked by the Hon the Colonial Secretary arc not to he considered as approving a principle which should bo embodied in an Act of the Assembly, but only as suggesting the best arrangements to be made for this year under the existing law.” “ I have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your obedient servant, “ H. Thomson, Chairman. “ The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.” Colonel Whitmore thought tho Board should take in some portion of tho county beyond the Hurunui. His own opinion w r as that the district ought to extend as far as the Wairoa.

The Mayor of Christchurch was of the same opinion, Tho Board had not the slightest objection to extend their boundaries so far.

Colonel Whitmore suggested that the Cheviot and Amuri districts should bo included.

Mr Brown observed that they had no subsidies.

Colonel Whitmore said they would have this year. The people of Tirnaru had, it appeared. a charitable aid of their own. At least they had a local Benevolent Society, which was helped by local subscriptions. Mr Brown thought they ought to take up the charitable aid business. Colonel Whitmore said he could not get them to do it. But, in the question of this voluntary work, it won,ld not do to drive people, nor could they do so. Tho speaker then remarked that the amount of £II,OOO, set down, appeared to be enormous It must certainly bo kept down. Dr. Turnbull said the Bonrd, on entering on office, was of the same opinion, and went carefully through the list, but found there was not a single recipient they could atrike off. The fact was there were large numbers of people who came from the West Coast, Wellington and other places, who afterwards became a charge on that Board —who had probably come to Canterbury because they had heard it was a well-to-do place. The whole matter had been carefully considered for three or four davs.

Colonel Whitmore said it appeared to him that the expenditure was a pieat deal more this year than it was last. They had added £7OO on to the list instead of taking that amo'vint olf. They must really try and keep (hat down, and not increase it. If it was going fo prove at tho rate of £7OO a year, what would ft ho In twenty years ? The idea of hiding the management over to local bodies was, that the system might be worked more economically’. With regard tothepmerd statement of expenditure, he should net dare go (ho Treasury with ft, Speaking- of the Old Men’s liefuge, Colonel) Whitmore asked what roeov'uius dfjii they get from tho friends of thu-jc who were fa that icstilu*

Mr Thomson replied there were no recoveries.

Colonel Whitmore said there certainly ought to be in the case of those who had relations.

Mr Thomson said that when they found they had relations they were not admitted. Colonel Whitmore said in the case of the Orphanage there was no reason why Westland and Canterbury should not do what was done in Dunedin in the way of outside subscriptions. Mr Thomson then referred to the application by the Foresters for a free bed at the Hospital.

After some discussion Colonel Whitmore said there could be no objection to let the Foresters have a free bed on moderate terms by the week, and that others outside of Foresters might be admitted to it if they thought it advisable.

In the course of a conversation which ensued, it was remarked that it would be very undesirable to introduce a system of poorlaws into the colony, similar to that which existed in England, it would only foster what might bo termed a “ pauper industry.” Colonel Whitmore spoke of the many institutions which contributed considerable sums in Dunedin to the charitable institutions, and instanced the late operatic performances, football and cricket clubs, and other institutions, which often gave performances for the benefit of the Benevolent Asylum. He also instanced cases of private benevolence, where one, two, and three hundred pounds had been subscribed for worthy objects in a very few hours, and said he thought the people of Canterbury might follow the example of their Scotch brethren with great benefit to themselves and the community at large. He was of opinion that charity was a virtue like appetite, that came of eating. Mr Thomson, referring to the estimate of £II,OOO, said he thought it was somewhat excessive, as the estimate was based on the four winter months of the year, for which of course the expenditure would be excessive. Colonel Whitmore then referred to an order that had been forwarded to the Q-overn-ment from the Board, and which had since been sent home. The order was for drugs and instruments to the value of £250, His own opinion was that there would bo sufficient drugs in this order to supply the whole of Hew Zealand for the next three years. Dr. Turnbull explained that the order had been most carefully considered by the medical staff. It was, too, a provincial liability. Colonel Whitmore said that might'be, but it could not now be charged to the provinces. At all events the order went homo the other day.

It was then resolved to bring tho Amur! aud Cheviot dietricta within the aißliation of hospitable and charitable aid. Some discussion then took place on the subject of the constitution of the Board. It was resolved that the Board, being a fairly representative body, should afterwards consider the whole matter, and forward their opinion to the Government. Col. Whitmore thought that tho Mayor of Christchurch should cx officio he a member, that the other local bodies should elect a member, and that the Government should also have the power of appointing a member. After some conversation with regard to the amount of £IBOO that was required for hospital improvements, the proceedings terminated.

The Board and Col. Whitmore then proceeded to pay a visit of inspection to the hospital.