Hospital Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 143, 21 June 1904, Page 4

Hospital Board.

The 'Parana ki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard met. on Monday i'rescm : V„, WI . K H Cot] . (c))ail . Ilian \ -McDonald. I'igott. Andrews, Hrowne (!i'ay, Clin and .Muckav. The action „i the sec.rc-turv in placing a lamil.v of small children at 11m boned s home on the Frnnkley Houd was continued. A letter from Dr. Curliei-v, of Stratford, accompanied by a note Hon, .Mr l.iardet, re a case of hardship in Stratford, was referred to .Messrs .Mackay and Liardet to report. On the motion of Jlessrs .McDonald and Mackay, it was decided to grant relief to the amount of live shillings a week to .Mrs i'ercival at Ingle-

A Wellington firm of solicitors asked for particulars of a man named William Wall, reported to have died in the hospital on April 12th, 1!)02. 'Pile secretary stated that the man had not died there; he had left in MtOl, leaving an unpaid account of about £l7.

Hie Hamilton Hospital authorities asked for particulars of rooms esUiJ.Jished for reception of patients in oilier towns.—The information had been sent. The llawera Hoard sent a man named Foster to the Old IVonlcs Home. '

The Hawcra Hospital Hoard deemed to recognise any responsibility in Hie account lor £ll Ss hospital fees in tin- matter of two lyphokl patients John Toy and Plvipps ■eiit iron, Kllham.—Heferrcd | (l the chairman, with power to art. Hie mtivmo had written t,. the VMha "•"»•« asking then, not to forward rases to this hospital, as the Ilawrra hospital had ti.-en established.

lhe secretary of the Benevolent Society in Masterton asked if an old man there eonid he admitted into the Old People's Home.-A reply had been sent thai, the Home was for Taranaki people only. 'J"hc Clifton County Council ' forwarded coiilrilaitions £l<i Is 3d ■ St rat lord llorougli Council, £7 His •'id ; Stratford County Council, £-11 Is 2d. Tile following names were added to I lie probationers' list :—Eva M. .Johnson. Xew Plymouth ; draco V. Si.sley, Xew Plymouth : Jnger Dons, Tututawa : Minnie Hignell, Wun- | ganui : Lucy .leanings, Auckland. Messrs (,'ovett and (Juilliam forwarded a ropy of the Si rat fold Hospital District ilill. Mr Jlarlon, llawera. asked if (he hoard had (.he vouchers of the Mi!moe estate.—The clerk had replied. The Bgmont. County Council wrote re valuations, and also forwarded a letter supporting the consumptive annexe scheme.

The chairman reported that James Harvey had been refused re-admit-tance to the Old I'eople's Home on account of frequent drunkenness. The surgeon. Dr. Lpatha.ni, reported on the hospital for the. month : Cases admitted 3'!. discharged 31. deaths 3, remaining at the end of the month, .'l3. The three deaths wen? in the cases of aged males, their ages beirtg| 82, 80 and 05 years. Over twenty operations had

been performed, ami twenty-one ailminis!rations of anaesthetics.

'l'lie application of Dr. Lentluun, medical superintendent, for an increased remuneration was considered in committee, and on resuming it was decided that the Board cannot see its way at present to increase-its administrative expenses in view of the proposed separation of the Stratford portion of the district. The committee set up to report as to I lie supply of drug* recommended, throne,!) the chairman, that tenders he invited for an annual supply of drugs.—The recommendation was adopted, and tenders will be called, to be in for the .July meeting. The application of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies for a reduction in the fees charged to patients who are mem<b|ers of the societies was considered.

The chairman reviewed the position. The money in these cases was guaranteed, and prompt payment the rule. Jlr Andrews moved that members of the amalgamated bodies be admitted at a reduction of Ms (id-a day, a reduction of sixpence a day. .Mr Browne seconded.

Mr G-ray opposed the motion. The societies were existing for the purpose of providing for its members' "rainy days," times of sickness, a>id it appeared that these funds would not be used for that object. The Chairman, speaking as an old member of a Friendly Society, said (hat Mr Gray was under a misapprehension. The lodges paid- out so much per week to sick members, gave them free doctors, and free medicine. It was not within the province of the lodges to guarantee hospital fees, but by making a small outside levy I hey were prepared t« do so. The board:s records showed that many men had been unable to pay their hospital accounts, but had they been members of Friendly Societies their accounts would be guaranteed.

Mr McDonald opposed the motion. If a member became unlinnncial his account could not- he-guaranteed. He moved as an amendment that the matter should be deferred until a full meeting of the board. Mr Pigott seconded. The motion was withdrawn and the amendment carried. On the motion of Mr Gray, a man named Dixon, of Okato, will be admitted to the Old People's Home. Accounts were passed, amounting to hospital £240 l<3s, Charitafllle Aid £153 3s 3d, and the board adjourned.