HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4441, 17 July 1922, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Thames Hospital Board met on Wednesday. Present: Messrs J. Rowe, W. J. Hall, G. Death, A. R. Robinson, P. Brenan, W. C. Kennedy, D. Mackay, S. H. Johnstone, and W. E. Hale. The first duty was to elect a chairman in succession to the late Mr. W. McCormick. Mr. G. Death proposed, and Mr. Brenan seconded, that Mr. Hale should be elected chairman. Mr. Hall proposed, and Mr. Mackay seconded, Mr. Rowe for the position. Mr. Hale was elected. The chairman thanked the members for the confidence placed in him. He recognised that he came to office at an inopportune time. He followed an able man in th,e late Mr. W. J. McCormick, one of the ablest, men with whom he had ever come into contact in local affairs. Then he was untried, but he could devote some time to the work, and with the assistance ofl the members would endeavour to discharge the duties of the position. Messrs. Rowe and Hall congratulated the chairman, and assured him of Hieir support. Th ; e only reason why they thought that a local man should bold the position was the time required to be given to the work. The chairman thanked the members. He represented a district that provided much by way of levies, and realised that the policy of the board must be strict economy, combine! with reasonable economy. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £lOO per annum. The chairman welcomed Mr. D. Mackay, a new member representing the borough of Thames. Mr W. Baker was granted leave bi absence. The chairman was appointed ii trustee r or the Savings Bank accountMOTOR AMBULANCE. The Director-General of Health forwarded particulars regarding the motor ambulances of the Defence Department. The cars had Sunbeam engines, and the body consisted of painted heavy canvas upon wooden frames, and was well sprung. Each rear wheel was fitted with two rims, and two pneumatic tyres. A complete set of tools was provided. The secretary reported that the board committee had agreed to take an ambulance car on loan, and the Director-General advised that instructions had been given for shipment. It was decided to sign the agreement for the loan, and arrangements for the keeping of the ear were left in the hands of the chairman and secretary. The secretary asked what fees were to be charged. In Auckland the board charged taxicab rates. Some cost would be incurred im repair and maintenance. Consideration was deferred.

LAND AGENTS’ FEES. A letter was received from the Taranaki Hospital Board forwarding a resolution: "That this board protests against the regulations recently gazetved under the Land Agents’ License Act, whereby license fees will not be paid to Hospital Boards-, as zn .the past.” The board decided to support the proposal, it being stated that the loss to the Thames board would he about £lOO per annum. NEIGHBOURING BOARD. The Waihi board wrote stating that it would meet a deputation from the Thames board on July 25 to discuss accounts between the two bodies. The clerk said tliat he had gone through the account. One item was for ore man 562 days, £B4 6s. Mr. Johnstone: He should have been in the homes. Mr. Kennedy: We notified them that we would only be lesponsible for urgent cases. Mr. Brenan doubted if- the man concerned had been a resident of Thames district for two years before going into the hospital. The secretary said that some of the items ’were for immigrants who had gone to Waikino. In that case the Waihi board must be responsible. The matters would be gone into both before and at the conference. It was decided that as many members as possible should attend, the conference. Mr, Death said that the question of bounadries should be discussed- The Thames board had an efficient institution, and the board should make it very dear that it would not accept any responsibility for any cases fro n the Thames hospital district. Mr. Rowe said that only the Government could alter boundaries. Mr. Deatli replied that he did not wish any alteration, but more strict observance. Mr. Kennedy said that the Thames hospital district to Wai-ri Beach, It would be unreasonable to ask them to come to Thames. The chairman said that the boarl would not be responsible for any cases other than urgent cases. REPORTS.

The Resident Surgeon reported tliat during the month the patients admitted were 31 males and 23 females, and 26 males and 26 females had been discharged, leaving 22 males and 20 females in the institution. The Nur.se to Natives reported that influenza colds, with sore throat and cough., had been very prcvalcr-t. There had been 131 typhoid inoculations. The superintendent of the District Homes reported that there were .18 men and six women in the institution. The farm was in good order, and there were sufficient vegetables in store io carry over the winter. Reporting for the Hospital Committee Mr. Brenan suggested that one ef tllC hose stand's should be lowered, and that a vent should be provided over the coppers in the laundry. The reports were adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. The Department of* Healtn, in reply to a question from the board with regard to the position of the board concerning an Immigrant who had not established settlement in any district, stated • "I have to state that the cost of relief given to such person perforce falls upon the hospital board

giving such relief. In the case in question there is no one from whom your hoard can claim for a refund of the relief given if the person is unable to pay.