HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 18 February 1902, Page 2

HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

♦ NEW NURSES' HOME TO BE BUILT. PROTRACTED DISCUSSION AND A SERIES OF ADVERSE AMENDMENTS. At the Hospital and Charitable Aid | Board's meeting on Monday, the Chairman moved that a new nurse's home be \ erected at the New Plymouth Hospital, i at a cost of £350.

I Mr. Tisch seconded. I j Mr. Oliver asked if it was correct i that the Board's account was £2OOO

overdrawn. The Chairman saia he believed it was. Mr. Mackay asked if there was any idea what rate would have to be struck to cover the Board's liabilities during ' the current year, Tbe Clerk read a draft statement in connection with the levy on local bodies ; for the year to 3lst March, 1903, as follows: EXPBNDITUBK. £ £ i Oebit balance as psr statement accounts 2,505

Estimated cost of invitations — N.P. Hospital (last year | £2,434) 2,500 Hawera Hospital (I B3 ' ytar £1,200) 1,350 Charitable aid (last year £1,908) 2,050 Nurses' quarters £350 Warehouse and laundry ... £l5O Pneumonia ward £2O Asphalting ... £59 —— 579 9,C

Rhckipts. Maintenance (last year £795) 850 Donations and subsidy ... 150 Rents ... 15 Refunds £6O j Total £7,899 The rateable value of the Taranaki Hospital District is £7,614,851, as against £5,734,965 last year. The rate of lid in the £IOO levied last year produced £2628. The levy of a rata of lid this year will result as follows :—R*te £3490, subsidy £3490, total £6980. This will leave a debio balance of £919. Mr Maunder said the estimated increase in rating would press hiavily on the Hawera county, which had the greatest pi dperty valuation. Mr Mackay opposed tbe motion. He thought that so long as tbe Beard had tbe isolation cottage at the hospital on its hands, they should not •vote away the ratepayers' money on a new building for nurses He admitted that nurses were entitled to suitable quarters, but meantime he suggested that this cottage, or the one near the old site of the Old Men's Home be adapted for the nurses' us<\ Mr Wilkie said country members were of opinion that too much expenditure was going on in the town. He would suggest an amendment that on the people of New Plymouth subscribing say £75, which would be subsidised by the Government by a similar amount, the Board would provide the balance.

Mr Oliver also opposed the motion. Messrs Stohr and Tiscb supported the erection of a new horn i for nurse =, which was sn absolute necessity. Mr Maunder, while agreeing to the need for improved accommodation for nurses, said the question would have to be carefully considered, bearing in mind the manner in which the rates will have to be struck. To make provissions for these things, the rate would have to be made Is on the £IOO.

Mr Sutton opposed altering old buildings, of which system of working the Board had bad costly experience, If a new building was necessary—and he agreed that the nurses were entitled to better quarters—then they should build a home, and not spend money in alterations.

Mr Liardet opposed the motion. While the Board had two buildings on hand, it should endeavour to utilise them. Then the expenditure would interfere with the project which the Board Icdow he would like to see carried out—that was the erection of a cottage hospital at StratforJ, which would relieve the New Plymouth hotpita'. The people there were ready and willing to assist themselves to obtain such an institution. He considered the present nurses' quarters at the hospital were sufficient. Mr Scott could Hot agree with Mr Liardet. The nurses were entitled to every attention, and h* would be sorry to see them dumped down in the present isolated cottage as proposed by some members. He did not favour tinkering with old buildings, and though he would support the motion, he would like to see tke matter postponed for a year. Mr McDonald thought it essential that a new building should be created for the nurses.

Mr Wareham agreed. The Chairman, in reply to Mr Wilkie, said the townspeople were getting up entertainments, and it was probable fully £IOO would be raised in aid of the nurses' home, etc. While speaking, he would stita that he supported the motion. He had taken a great interest ia the hospital for the pist twelve years, and he contended that the nurses had always been badly treated, They ought to have good quartrrs, and because some of the members had, as tbey said, lived in worse phces thin the present cottage to which is was propo-ed to remove the nurses, that was no argument why these hard working parsons should not haye better accommodation. Mr, Moir said he had been amused during his visit to the hospital by several contradictions he bad noticed. The doctor had said the present night nurses' rooms were not suitable for them to sleep in during the day; yet he considered they weald be good enough for pneumonia patients and others who required the most absolute quiet. The isolation cottage could with a small expenditure on alterations be made comfortable for night nurses. Speaking on the financial aspect of the question he said the ratepayers had expected that with the increased valuations the rate would be reduced. It seemed to him, howsver, that instead of a reduction an increase to Is in the £IOO would be necessary, He suggested that a report be obtained of the cost of a couple of new bedrooms. Mr. Wilkie's amendment not being seconded, Mr. Mackay moved that th» architect bi instructed to report whether it is possible to convert the isolation cottage into suitable apartments for the nurses, and also ti prepare an estimate of the cost of two additional bedrooms to be built on to the cottage. Seconded by Mr. Mauud»r. The amendment was lost on division by seven votes to six,

! Mr. Willcie then moved big amendment; again, and Mr. Miclcay seconded. Messrs. Warehara and Sutton opposed the new araendmnnt; the latter speakiQg st-ongV in support of giving the nurses everything possible to pro-] .mote th«ir comfort, j

Mr. Liardet pointed out tha*. the proposed expenditure would land the Board into an increased liability of , about 25 per cent. . M«Rsrs. Macksy and Moir spoke in guppoi t of the amendment, whioh wasl then put and lost on division by seven I to six. 11 Mr. Maekay moved a further amend- 1 ment that the matter be held over till • next meeting for further discussion.— j \ I Seconded by Mr. Moir and lost by I s?ven to six. i | The Chairman's original motion, that a new nurses' home be erected, I

was then put and carried. The Chairman moved that the present nurses' rooms be altered to a pneumooii ward, at a cost of £2O. Seconded by Mr. Stohr, and carried. Mr. Stohr moved that a laundry be erected, at a cost not to exceed £l5O, on the rise approved by the Biard. '

Seconded by Mr. Tisch. | Consider ition was deferred in order to obtain information regarding a disinfecting chamber; I The question of tarring and asphalfci ing the roadway in front of the hospital was deferred. The estimated con , was£27.loi for tarring, or £59 for asphalting.