HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 72, 19 March 1902, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of thi Board was hald on Tuesday. Presunt M-sws Leppr (chairman), Oliver McDonald, SuUon, Stawart, Maunder Wilkie, Gray, Sohr, Tisch, Warebam Moic and Mackay. The New Plymouth Housa Com mittea reported the following tandon had been received for the erection of i nurses' home at New Plymouth in ac cordanje with plans and specification! prepared by Mr F. Messenger, and re commending that Mr Cliff's tender bj acceptedG. Oliff £335, R. N Hooker £839, R. Coleman £344, H Wallath £365, W. Campbell £367, A Pikatt £370, L. Steele £398. Th< committee further recommended tha the offer by J. Reynolds of 4s pei month for rent of paddock at the olc refuge, Te Hanui, be accepted. The; reported also that a lady resident hat oflered £3O towards the equipm-nt o an ambulance for accidents and hoe pi tal cases. As there was a notice of motion o Mr Mackay's on the Order Paper rela tive to rescinding the resolution ti build a nurses' home, it was, after som< discutsion, resolved to proceed with thi motion. Mr Mackay, in formally moving t< rescind the resolution, contended that it would be a great waste of funds tc erect the proposed house, as there wort already two buildings in the grouadt suitable for the purpose. Mr Maunder, in seconding the uiO' tion, expressed his conviction that the Board had been too hasty in deciding on the matter. Mr. Gray twitted Messrs. Mackay and Moir on their Scotch caution, but reminded that they did not set a good example in carrying out theii precepts for both, he said, draw then " salary " and left the Board before th< conclusion of its business. With regard to the nurses' home, he contended that the expenditure was justified as it was absolutely ntcessu'y that the nurses should have rest and quiet aftar their arduous labours. Mr. Moir supported the motion as he did not consider that mare, but rathei less quiet would be eusured by th« proposed building than could be obtained in the rooms abutting oa tb< corridor of the hospital, i Mr. Stewart was of opinion that th a discussion was out of place. Mr. Warebam said reference had been mode to tha expenditure at New Plymouth, but in view of the substantial help the residents had given and were giving the expense of the building in question was not worth I talking about. Mr. Stohr pointed out th it recently £35 had been raii-.ed and no doubt uiore | would be got in. Those sub.-crip'ions with the Government subsidy thereon would, it was expected, cover the cost of equipmants. I Mr. Sutton supported the erection of the cottage on the ground that, it was the duty of the to see'bat the nurses were comfortably cared for. He was t>ure that the expenses would be kept dowii. The Chairman said he was not influenced by the opinions of the membei s but by the advice of the medical staff who strongly urged that the proposed accommodation should bs provided. At Mr. McDonald's request a letter was read from Dr.'Laatham, wherein it was stated that there was at present no room in the hospital in which an even temperature could be maintained. In addition to this, serious cas«s wbioh required cons'ant watching, especially in those of dying patients, had a prejudicial effect on the other iqmates. There were alss critical operations, cases like that of Duffin, which necessitated the utmost; quiet, and required u special room for their treitraem Mr Mackay, in reply, explained the circumstances connected with his lowing the Board as referred to by Mr Gray. Everything, he said, was wanted for New Plymouth, and so members should be cautious. He did not consider that the proposed site would ensure the quiet which Dr. Leatham was desitous of procuring for the nurses, as it was in the main thoroughfare to the hospital. They were all agreed on the necessity for a poeumouia ward; but with regard to the cottage he maintained the site was insanitary, and that the building was unnec«ssary. The motion was then put and lost on a division by S6veu to six. Ayes: Messrs Oliver, Stewurt, Maunder, Wilkie, Moir, and Mackay. Noe*: McDonald, Sutton, Gray, Stohr, Tisch, Warehain, and Lepper. The motion to adopt tha House Commit tee's report was then carried on a similar division. Oa the motion of Mr Tisch, a he irty vote of thanks was passed to the lady who had donated £3O towards an ambulance, it b.iug left to Dr Leatham to irrange the necessary details connected with its construction. The Hawera Houst Committee ro-1 ported tha l ; the ic 1 machine had at''' ived and bten found to work >atisf«c-j iorily. - Report udop'ei. I In reply to Mr Maunder, M- Sutton J sxplaitiel tint te-.ido'S hivi i'oen call d. or the supply of meliouie to Hawera Hospital, bus none h'.d been re wived,] ind thai the supply was being obtained J it Hawera. j

J Mr Maunder tVnupht it only right that the supply should he divided between the two cheinis's thjre. The Or,airman replied that the present arrangement worked so wtll that the Board was saving pounds by it.

j The clerk of the Stra' ford County (Council forwarded copy of a reso ution 1 passed by thnt body urging the necessity of establishing a cottage hospital at Stratford. Mr Mackay intimated that a puV scripcion lisi bad stored, and in one evening .£SO had been collected in a room at the County Hotel. It was decidod to acknowledge the letter.

Mrs H«nry Gray forwarded £2B la srl, proceeds of tiw fete. hnld in the hospital grounds. Th# Public Trustee £6 14" 3d, balance of the bequ. si. of £2O mude by the late T. Corcoran, wi'h interest,! £l3 12s 7d having already " eet) paid, j The names of Misses J. T«y! r,( Bertram and George wort) ocdired t;j ; be placnd on the lis" of probationers, 'and the names of Mssati Oumoron (Marton), Folly (Auck.uad), Whit* (Nelson), and Anketill >Musterton), are to be placed on th-i outside list. The Chairman's action in fillicg up I th* position of ooak at the liospitul was j confirmed. Applications for remission of feos ' mida by J. Gilbert and T. IbbDtson j were postponed for inquiries. In the I case of H. IHingworth, application is I to be maoe to Mr Smart for payment ' of fees. Dr. Wes en'a reported that during the month eight c«ies had breu admitted to Hiweta iva di*

charged, one d'ed, and war# 11! n'Hv iu the hospital. A I*o thit Hi.. Collins had been appointed porter subject to trial for three months. Payment by the Public Trustee of XII Qa 21 ran'; on account of a native, named Rongohurttmato waa reported. The Auckland Bmrd applied for payment of feen in r*spßc>. of Mra Rjoney, ef Stiaiford,—Referred to Mr Macltay. Tbo Chairman, pursuant to notiee,. moved that the rate for thrf ensuing year be lid in the'£loo (producing £3489 19a 7d.) Mr Sutton, in seconding the motiotf r said he was opposed to paying interest on a large overdraft and was strongly in favour of paying off liabilities. Mr Wilkie sail he had heard no reason given for raising the inereued amoun', and hj« cansidersd that the 'increased valuation being over two> millions tha rate thould bo reduced. He poiDttd oat that as the valuation in the Hawera district bad beea nearly doubled the rate would pr<*s very hardly on the settlers, ana tbat a M rati on the new valuation weald suffica.

The Olerk said tbat the lid rate on last year's valuation and a 9d rate on the new valuation would yield about the same total.

Mr Wilkie moved as aa amendment that the rate b» lOd.

Mr Stewart, iu seconding tbe motion, said he did so by way of pro est. Hl* warned tbe Board that its present policy would load to a separation of tbe two districts, as there appeared to bo to .itLer course op#n. lie felt sure tho< southern portioo wuuld nut stead the heavy rate for locg. Mr Mack'iy was satisfied the Beard would not have too much money, and he would support the motion is order that the ratepayers might be brought face to face oith the extravagance of tha Board.

Mr Maunder was in favour of the lower rate, bs he considered there VMf no necessity for paying off the over* * draft (£2407) straight away, but considered it should bis spread over two years. Mr McDonald perferred getting dear, of liabilities, and therefore supported the lid rate.

Mr Gray thought tbe pe">p'e of the district could very well p*y the lid for tbe support of the indigent. Mr Wilkie t>aid he was surprised that he had not been more strongly supported. Tbe Board was able to pay its way very well on a ratt> of 10d, and the jump to lid was tw great. The settlers in the back district.* required ail th < money they could g t to improve their own position. Members should recognise the old aiying tbat " Charity begins at home." Tne Obairmtn said he balieved that Stratford people thought they would shortly have a hospital there, and in th' 4 Cass the Board would hiv i to raiso tbe rate to 15d.

Toe amendment was then put atd los', and the original mo ion waa carried. Messrs R. Price and Marsh waited on the Board with reference to a case for charitable aid, and eventually tk« Board granted 5a * week.

Mr Mackay suggested that inquiriee be made into the position of affairs regarding Mrs Oandish and her ability to support her. The question of ereotionof a laundry at the hospital, and also the asphalting, was held over till next meeting.

Mr Maunder asked if the defaulters' list was yet out. It wa* attted the list was on tho table.

Mr Maunder suggested tbat a fresh lift of recipients of aid be supplied to local bodies. -Agreed to. In reply to Mr Sutton, tho Chairman satd the Pouse Surgeon at Hawera should seod for wnaiever books be require ns rh»y were not in stock at tha New Plymouth hospital. Acc urns were passed as fallows: New Plymouth hospital £192 lis, Htiw»ra bo«pit*l £7O 18s 7d, charitable aid £ll3 5s 6d, travelling expunses £9 16s.