HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 98, 14 April 1908, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met yesterday. l'rcseut: Messrs. Fred Bellriuger (chairman), U. \V. Browne, C. Andrews, J. Blown, C. O'Sullivan, and L). 11. McDonald. J. it. Hill and James Burgess. ALEC Tilt UIiEEK. Constable l'liee wrote, Ui.u lie j had inioruied Alee the Creek oi tin- j Boards decision to cut oil his ulluuaiice, I with a view of compelling him to accept I the shelter of the Old People s Home, I and the old uiau s icply was mat lie j uould sooner die in Uie road tuan go ! to the ilome. 'The only .illcum : lv\ it ' wa 3 pointed out in the letter, wa- I" ; I charge linn with \agrancy, luiug linn | before the Court, ami give hint tn e option oi tile home or prison.

Mr. O'Millivan said Waitara people had made up their minds that the police »ould have no opportunity ot taking him as a vagraut, with no means oi support, aud to that end one had given uim a two-shilling piece, with instructions always to have it on his person. Mr. Ogle said he would undertake to see that the man was never hard up. Ue had told the Waitara sympathisers that the Board was doing what they considered best for the man. but the Board uad to remember that Alec absolutely declined to enter the Home. Mr. O'Sullivan moved that the Board pav ,sod a week.

A question was raited as to the ue- • cessity for rescinding the former resolu- ■ tion upon which the aid was stopped. Mr. McDonald said the leading residents of Waitara had tried to get Alec to enter the Home, but he was prejudiced, and said he would rather uie. Ihe Waitara people, of course, would like the old man to come to the home, but would not force him. Thev ottered' to keep him and to engage a woman to look after him, if the Board would allow enough for him to pay house-rent. Mr. Burgess said he would oppose the motion unless the condition were added that the Waitara people would undertake to keep the ntan decently housed and fed, and to prevent his lapse into his former state.

1 -Mr. Drown agreed. He considered theic mj-5 U>o much seiitiiueut introduced into tbi, matter. II C uu h ■'l uI? !*$ l,ut at sau^ , . the local bodies did not appoint their representatives on the ba.,13 of sentiment, but to see that charitable aid was fairly administered. The Board should bear in mind that the subject of this discussion was old, ailing, : and likely to prove au expensive outpatient.

Mr. Browne agreed. He would not oppose the motion if some responsible person would undertake the charge of the man, who would be better off in toe Home. The Chairman said that the recent ill- : ness cost £4.

r °l >l - vin ?- ? aid he did not like the idea of throwing the old man on the charity of Waitara people. Mr. Burge?s explained that there was no objection to granting aid. provided that anyone in Waitara would guarantee to look after the man, and moved an amendment to that effect. This was withdrawn, and the motion put and lost. MRCELLAXEOrP. The design of Messrs. Russell & Son for entrance gates to the hospital grounds was adopted, and tender, will lie called for the work of erection. It was decided to inform the Borough Council that in the opinion of the litnrd the time Had not arrive,l for the purchase of an ambulance Miss .J. Reay, of Urcnui, and Miss nn th 1 Jfan ? l t o k i . Were placed on the probationer.?' |i*t. I rrrli' ,i"' '!' Brookw <Wellington) wrote that he trustees of the funds raised for Miss Wynn Milk n former inmate■ of the hospital, stated that she was st,ll incapacitated, and that there was very little of the monev left, T] IPV thought the best plan was for the Board to forward her account direct to ir.. . ' S - V(ln( '- V - Members doubled further. ?

The Inspector-C.eneral of Hospitals notified that his Department would pav the cost of the alterations to the D.T.

Miss Ovenden forwarded her resignation of the charge of the children" ill her ear,. a t the Vealc road home—Accepted with regret. The Inglewood Borough Council reported a case of a familv living in distressed circumstances, and. niiou the motion of Mr. D. H. McDonald, it was decided to grant 10s a week allowance, Messrs. McDonald and Brown to report tully upon the circumstances.