Hospital Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 190, 16 August 1904, Page 4

Hospital Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the T u ranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Monday. Present-: Messrs R. Cock (in the chair), McDonald, Pigott, Andrews, Brown, Liardet, Cliff, and Hine. —House Surgeon's Report.— Dr. Leathani reported that during the month there had been 26 admissions, 27 discharged, and 23 now remained in the hospital. Deaths, 2. —Probationers.— Miss Nixon applied to have her name placed on the probationers' list.—Agreed to. —Contributions.— The various local contributing jbttwlies forwarded monthly contribiulions. —An Inglewood Matter.— Mr B. H. Nicltolls, Mayor of Inglewood, recommended that the allowance to Mrs Percival lie increased, as she was unable to earn sufficient to provide ordinary requirements. Mr McDonald said the woman received five shillings a week, and being an able-bodded person should be able to manage. The secretary said that the recipient was of the opinion that the board must keep her, and "if they didn't give her food she would obtain it and let the board "fall in." —A Worthy Nephew.— A letter was l'oad from Mr Clarke, of Inglewood, promising to pay £a<i per annum toeards the. support of his uncle, Mr lJixon, of Okato, in the Old People's Home. —l''oi' the Good of His Health.— On the surgeon certifying that such treatment will prove beneficial to him, Davidson, an inmate of the Home, will bo sent to the Rotorua. Sanatorium . —Stratford Hospital Bill.— The Premier acknowledged the »oceipt of the board's letter regarding tlio Stratford Hospital Bill. , —Barbed Wire.— ! Mr F, Stohr, the borough inspector, requested that the barbed wiio in the fence in Fulford-street be icmoved.—Referred to the chairman. —Dilierence of Opinion.— The Hawera Hospital Board wrote declining to admit of any liability in the matter of Eltham patients to the New Plymouth hospital, and proposing a conference on '.he matter of charges at the Old Men's Home. The Hawera Board further stated that 10s per week was understood io be the charge for their indigent aged poor at the Home. The Chairman said the House Committee, with Messrs Roljbjims and Scott, of Hawera, had been through the Home accounts, and found that there were some items, lounges, easy chairs, and so forth, in the way of luxuries that could hardly be fairiy charged to the Hawera people. The funds for these purchases had been raised by public subscription in New Plymouth, but the amount had not been credited to the Home. The Hawera delegates were willing to pay the cost of funerals in the case of any Hawera inmates dying in the institution. The sum of £l7 10s had been allowed them on the management account, and £2l on repairs to buildings. Allowances were also m a de in tho advertising account, part of which was for notifying entertainments in New Plymouth for beautifying the grounds. Objection was also taken to the account for the "whisky—hot nightcaps."

but the account had boon sustained. The practice was now stopped. The item of £43 odd for cash payment to inmates had met with disapprobation.

Mr Farrar, who was present, recommended that this practice be stopped. Some of the men got a shilling a week, or a little more, for working about the place. When they had saved up a little capital the inmates began to assert their indopendence and became abusive. Tho Chairman continued : The conference "had agreed that for the past year's maintenance 14s per week would be charged to the Hawera Board. In future the full cost would The report was adopted.

Tho Chairman further said that the matter of paying the fees of the two Eltham patients had boon practically settled. Tho accounts had ljeen sent to Mr ltoddie, Eltham's representative on the I-la'wera Board, to collect, and failing his doing so, the latter board will liquidate the debt.

—Those Inglewood Sections. — Mr McDonald was granted an extension of time in which to report on the sections in Inglewood. —Stopiwd Their Pay.— The Chairman moved that the cash allowance to inmates of the Old People's Home be discontinued.—Seconded by Mr Pigott and carried. —The Consumptive Annexe.— Tho Chairman reportod on the success of the "Hospital Saturday" movement, Dr. Valintine suggestti that the consumptive annexe should be built between the caretaker's house and the nurses' home on the high ground. From there a view could be obtained that would effect

lialf a cure. Div Valintine and the Government architect would ho hew. in the course of a week, and would decide on the site. Ib was possible that the present nurses'home would bo converted into a consumptive hospital, and a now home erected furtlior bask.

Mr Andrews asked how the annexe Was to be supported. The Chaiirman said it would be a charge on the general account. —The Stratford Severance.— In answer to the chairman Mr Liaidet said the new schedule in the Stratford Hospital Hill was simply to the effect that <Mch district, in case of severance, would keep its own reserves. The Chairman said that delegates to Wellington on this matter had not been accorded a very warm reception. —The Old Men.— Mi Farrar, custodian of the Homo, said that there were only four men in the Home who got whisky at night. It had never been a practice to give the inmates a nip before they went to bed, and these four had the stuff ordered 'by the doctor. They were very old people, ranging from 70 to 89 years. He continued that there had happened recently in the Home an occurrence that lie hoped lie would never see again. An old man bad come home drunk and offensively abusive, having spent his savings. Any old man with a record of hand drinking should top placed under a prohibition order during the whole period of his) stay. The man had since left the Home. The Chairman Said he would deal firmly in matters like these. He would not allow such men back in the Home. —Accounts.— Accounts were presented : Hospital £289 lCs 8d ; olmritablo aid £154 19s sd.—Passed for payment. The secretary reported on charitable aid cases during, the month. Mr Brown reported on a charitolble aid case in Inglowood.—Action deferred. The board adjourned for lunch, and on resuming at 2.15 p.m. at the hospital it was 1 decided to instal a piherophone in the building to connect the office, the two wards, and the matron's room, the cost being limited to £lO 10s. This concluded the business.