HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1911, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD-

A meeting of the above Board was held on Thursday afternoon. Present : Messrs Bignell (chair) Hargreaves, Creagh, Gieseking, Bierne, Sheedy, Larkin, Hon. Tas. Marshall. The accounts were examined and the sum of £777 11s lOd passed for payment. , The secretary reported that Mr Fasshad not signed the contract for painting- at the Hospital. The chairman moved that Mr Fass :be given three days to sign, failingsame his deposit be forfeited, and the job given to the next lowest tenderer. Mr Larkin seconded. Carried. CONDOLENCE. The chaiman moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs Lord on the lamentable death of her^ husband. He paid a high tribute to the memory of the late Mr Lord as a' citizen and friend. Hon. Jas. Marshall seconded and said Mr Lord was a good upright man. ' •Mr Hargreaves also bore testimom' fr > Mr Lord's sterling- qualities.' GENERAL. The Hospitals Department wrote ap proving of the appointment of Miss Kitto as mtaron. Received. It was resolved to grant 15s a month for the relief of an old Chinaman at' Maori Gully..On a mother's application It was resolved to ask the Magistrate to commit her 11 year old son to the Stoke Industrial School; also that the Magistrate be asiced to make an order against his brother, who is working as a miner at Waiuta. towards the boy's keep. A resident made application to have his wife sent to one of the large hospitals for operation to her eyes. Referred to the doctor who recommended that she :be sent to Christ--'"hurch. A resident of North Beacli wrote asking to be sent to an eye specialist for treatment. The doctor reported that it would be as well to wait for about a month before complying with the request. A resident of Cobden wrote asking to be sent to the Otaki Consumption Hospital for treatment. He was a married man with a wife and five childen, the eldest being- 11 years. Hon. Mr Marshall moved that the request be granted and he be sent away as soon as possible. Mr Sheedy seconded. Carried. <Mr Charles Rose ; wrote offering .to lease Reserve 29 to him. The offer was not entertained. The Education Department forwarded a circular re the education of deaf, iblind, feeble-minded, and epileptic children. Referred to the doctor. The Inspector General of Hospitals wrote stating- that a Charitable Aid Conference would be held in Wellingon on 14h June. Received and the chairman, secretary, and doctor draw up a report re remits. Miss Andrews wrote thanking the Board for the payment of three months salary. Received. The District Health Officer. Christchurch, wrote re appointing- an Inspector for the Grey district. The action of the delegates in agree ing to the appointment was endorsed. VISITING COMMITTEE. We beg to report that the executive visited the hospital on Saturday, .Bth inst., and considered the following matters : — Tenders for Drapery.— Tymons, and Co., the only tenderer, we decided that the matron go through the prices and if found satisfactory the tender be accepted by the Board. The matron has since reported the prices to be very satisfactory. Resignation. — The matron reports that Prob. Askenbeck resigned through chronic deafness.— Resignation accepted and matron authorised to appoint Miss Montague, subject to approval of the Board. Miss Montague has since declined. : Also received resignation of Annie Colton, wards maid. — Received and matron authorised to engage another if a suitable person offers. The matron also reports that the assistant laundress was dissatisfied with her wages, and ibeing a good: workers did not like to lose her. We recommend that her salary be increased to v£l per week. (Present wages £3 5s per month. ' ; , The repairs, painting and fencing at the Hospital are getting- on satis-, factory, but "the cantWct for painting the roof has not been signed. The tender of Tymons and Co. was accepted. . Hon. James Marshall moyed that ,as Miss Montague had declined the position, the position be offered to Miss Roulston. Mr Sheedy seconded. Carried. The report was adopted. DOCTOR'S REPORT. In reference to the question of the admitting to the Hospital of patients able to pay private fees, I beg to draw attention to the fact that in the •by-laws there is a copy of the form to be filled up by, or for, each person attending- for treatment. If this is conscientiously done in every case no further trouble should arise. For, some time past it has ;been the custom, to admit without question any person who 'bore a written rccQmendation from a doctor or a members of the board, on the assumption that such any one would be most likely to know .the financial circumstances of the individual, and , would only recommend if a suitable subject for the charity. The report was received. I have considered the matter of the Old Men's Home and have discussed it with the matron and have come to the conclusion that the arrangements had (better be left as they arc for the present. Until there is united action on the part of the various West Coast 'boards there cannot be any more economical method of housing the old men of this district than that which at present obtains. The only" alternative that I can suggest would be in having- a married couple in charg;e of the old portion of the Hospital, but it is not only difficult to find suitable persons .but accommodation would have to be provided and the salaries would be con- . siderabiv larger than those now bcine- paid. The report was received.