HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 5 December 1907, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Hospital and Cluiritable Aid Board met yesterday. Tliere were present Messrs. ,T. 11. Parker (chairman), F. Bellringer, J. Brown, Jaa. Burgess, D. 11. M'Donald, and C. O'Sullivan. MATRON'S SALARY.

Dr. Leathan conferred with the Board concerning the matron's salary. He said that when the Board recently considered the adjustment of salaries, no allowance was made for the matron. Miss Brown had been in the Board's service for ten years. She first acted as head nurse for a year, and was then acting for six months as matron during the matron's illness. So satisfied was the Board with her services in that position that she was appointed matron, at a salary of £9O. That salary continued until two vears ago, when it was incrcised to" £IOO. The work of the in; iron had very largely increased. \V!:n she was appointed there were six nv. es residing, now there were fourte>:i. This entailed greater responsibility in looking after them, training and teV'.iing them. The success achieved '.:•: 'he nurses was atlrimitable to the

excellence of the training given by the matron. They had to lie prepared for State examinations, and the training hail to be thorough. He would like to mention that Miss Holforii, lormerly of this stall', bad been specially recommended bv Miss Xeill for the position of matron of St. Helen's Maternity Home, and Miss McAllum, who recently left this hospital, was sub-matron there. He could eite several other instances. When Miss Brown was first appointed there was an average of about 14 patients ]>er day. Now there were between 35 and 4(1. They should bear in mind, too, the great amount of surgical work done here, and the consequent necessity for particular supervision by the "matron. He considered the personality of the matron and nursing staff was'in no small measure responsible for the success of the institution, and for the very large percentage of fees collected. The Hoard had a clever, capable, and trustworthy woman as matron, and he thought she was deserving of larger remuneration. It must he said, that he was acting on his own initiative, and Miss Brown bad neither asked for a rise nor spoken to him abf.ut it. in answer to >fr. Bellringer, Dr. Leatham said he < ■-•ulil not recommend | adding the dispensing to the matron's duties. _ |

It was decided to leave tlie matter over for the new Boanl to deal with. .MEDICAL REPORT. The medical superintendent reported 2!) patients had been admitted during the month, 34 discharged, and 41 remained. There had been one death. There were two men and two women in the consumptive annexe; and two •cases of scarlet fcrer and two of measles had been treated in the isolation ward. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The manager, Mr. A. E. Fallal', reported tnat mere were now 2(i inmates .n the Old People's Home. There had been only oue departure, Job Rowley having left of his own accord, and there had oeeu one death. Discipline was good, and general health good. One inmate had absented nimseii without leave. the chairman reported that this man's leave had been stopped for three months. GENERAL ITEMS. Miss Dorothy Whiteombe's name was placed on the probationers' list.

It was deemed that the Board's accident insurance policy should be again placed with the Government Accident Department. Accounts were passed for payment as under:—Hospital, £372; charitable aid, £135 JJs lOd. PARTING PRAISES. The chairman said that he had only a iV ~ minutes now to remain in office, and wished shortly to refer to the Hoard's affairs, lie was leaving the finances in a very healthy cuudition. At the May meeting there had been a credit balance of £894 Us 4d, and now, despite heavy expenditure, they had £IIUU Us 4d to their credit. Heavy items of recent expenditure were enlargement ol the men's ward £177, installation of electric light £l5O, progress payments on erection of new destructor £OO, and surgical instruments £IOO. The lighting of the hospital had been very much improved since the installation ot the electric light, and was more economical. Concluding, Mr. Parker said that the time he had spent in connection Willi the hospital had been tpaitc the happiest period of his life. The work had become intensely interesting to him, and his relations with his fellowmembers and the staff had been most cordial. From his intimate knowledge of the Board's institutions, he was of opinion that they were carried on as .well as it was possible for any institutions to lie conducted. He thanked the members .for their invariable kindness and consideration during his term of office.

Mr. McDonald said lie luid been greatly disappointed to learn that the New Plymouth Borough Council had not reelected Mr. l'arker as their representative on the Board, for he had been a most capable chairman, working most faithfully in the interests of the hospital and of the ratepayers.

Mr. Brown said he must say the same thing—he was disappointed, too. It wasn't a good thing to so frequently change chairmen. As a member of the House Committee he had come into touch a good deal with the chairman, and could testify to his keen business instinct and his keen interest in the hospital, giving practically the whole of his time to the work. Mr. Parker must have been chagrined to find himself deposed at the end of his term. He believed in "new blood," but it could be overdone. When Mr. Tisch left the Board, members thought they would never get another such chairman, but they had been most agreeably surprised in Mr. Parker's capacity and devotion to duty. Mr. Bellringer concurred in the eulogy, having recognised that Mr. Parker's sole aim had 1 n the welfare I and advancement of the Board's institutions.

Mr. Burgess deprecated this frequent change of representation and presidency, which he compared to the small boy's habit of looking into the works of a watch every live minutes to see that it was going properly. Such a system was not conducive to the best results. He regretted that -Mr. Parker was leaving the Board. Mr. O'Sullivan was very sorry that Mr. Parker was going, and wished to thank him for his uniform courtesy. Their chairman had been new at the start, but as the months went by the speaker for one recognised that they had got a "real good chairman." Mr. Parker feelingly thanked the members for their kind remarks. He had tried to do his duty, and if he had failed it was not his fault, but rather his misfortune. He thought the present short tenure of office by hospital members a decided mistake, and in this opinion he was supported by gentlemen interested in other hospitals. A good many points in hospital administration needed simplification and drastic adjustment, and he thought that a conference oi chairmen and secretaries of lio-pital boards should consider the new legislative proposals before they were submitted to Parliament. Mr. Parker then took his leave of his colleagues.

AXXL'AL MEEm'U. At the animal meeting, held at noon, there were present—Messrs. Bellringer, Burgess, .1. Brown, (J. \V. Browne, J. 1!. Hill. I). 11. McDonald, and V. O'Sullivan. 'I'll? clerk prcsiiliMl, ami invited nominations lor the position of chairman. Mr. llrmvni' proposed that Mr. Fred. iSollringer he chairman for the ensuing year, lie thought it necessary that the chairman should he easily accessible liv the stall'. Ho had yet to learn his duties as member, but lie had a jealous regard for the hospital and its high reputation. Mr. McDonald seconded. Mr. Bellringer was not an old member; but the speaker said he had sat for years with his father, the late Mr. .lames Bellringer, and a. Itolter memlKT he could not remember. He was alio of opinion that the chairman should live in .New Plymouth.

Mr. .1. Brown supported. There had been a rumor that he was looking for the position, but he would tell them candidly that he didn't want the job, as lie hadn't the necessary time, lint he did not agree with what his colleagues had raid about the necessity for the chairman to bo a town member. That was merely a rut into which this Hoard had drifted. The I'almerston North Hospital bad never been so successful nor the business done so harmoniously as it ! had been since their chairman had been a member living 27 miles away. His reason for supporting Mr. Bellringer was that he believed lie bad die necessary grit to properlv lill the position. I'or his own part, he thought it better for the chairman not to be too handy, for it meant that lie would be postered almost to death. Tie trusted that Mr. licllringer would prove as capable as his two imiiH'diale predecessors. lift. Burgess thought that the Service of some of the old members should lie recognised by appointment to the chair, and lie nominated Mr. McDonald. That gentleman, he said, had intimate knowledge of the Board's affairs, waa acces--9 .t. ■•.... . %

sihlc by telephone, and was in every way qualified. .Mr. McDonald declined. * Mr. Hill hoped that the chairman wouldn't leave the Borough Council and render necessary another change of chairmen. Mr. Rcllringcr was duly elected and took his scat. Returning thanks, lie said that he would do his best, and if he made any errors they would be honest errors. He thanked members for the kind remarks concerning his late respected father. Tf lie could do but half of what his father had been able to accomplish be would be quite satisfied with himself. He recognised that it would be hard work to act up to the standard set by Messrs. Tisch and. Parker. The chairman and Messrs. Joseph Brown and (J. W. Browne were appointed to the House Committee. Tt was decided to meet, as usual, on the third Monday in the month, next meeting on the third Monday in January. Four will form a quorum. Any two members will be empowered to sign cheques and contracts. The chairman was authorised to call •

special meetings when necessary. Tenders for supplies were accepted as follows:—Groceries, G. G. Boulton; bread, K. Jeffries, 1%(1 per lb; milk, R. Cleinow (only tenderer), 2d pelquart; meat, Side Bros., 3d per lb; boots and shoes, 11. Evans; undertaking, M. K. Clow (only tenderer); wine and spirits, Humphries and Co.; fuel, Westport Coal Company. Mr. J. Brown moved, and Mr. Burgess seconded, that the matron's salary be increased to £llO. Mr. C. W. Browne remarked upon the fact that despite the curtailment of the hospital district the work of the hospital was increasing. What was responsible for this? Chorus: The reputation of the institution. The motion vis carried. Out of five applicants, Mr. D. Ncwsam was appointed gardener for the hospital at £B4 a year and house allowance. It was decided to make application to the Borough Council to set apart portion of the Te llenui Cemetery for the interment of old men dying in the Old Men's Home.