HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 291, 18 January 1910, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of tin; Hospital Board was held yestrrujy. Present: Messrs. F. C. Bclirmger (cUairman), G. W. Browne, E. Maxwell, U Andrews, .1. i!. Hill. ,1. Brown, C. U Sullivan and D. U. McDonald. ' k^uß'-d.

Messrs. •!. 11. Hobbs and i''. Amoorc, representing the Taranaki Friendly Societies Association, waited on the Hoard and requested some i'urther concession on the fees payable by their Association for maintenance of its' members in the hospital. Mr. Hobbs, in support of the application, said that during the past year the Association had paid to this Board ,£2BO or thereabouts, «;ul the accounts paid ranged from a few pounds to over £.BO. The Association's funds were made up of quarterly contributions of two shillings per member, and these had proved; utterly inadequate to meet, the expenditure. iic.i the Association met the representatives of the Stratford. Hnwera, and New Plymouth Boards they secured a concession of a shilling a dav per member, in view of the fact that each member's account was guaranteed by the Association. But then the same concesison had been immediately granted to the general public, so that the guarantee didn't seem to weigh with the Board, and the Association was* not getting any preferential treatment, lie asked the Board to make a concession of from 2s to 2s 6d a day. He warned the Board that if the Association was compelled to cease operations, the Taronaki.boards would suffer considerably, for the Association was of great assistance to the boards! in getting in a good deal of money that they would not otherwise receive. He asked the Board to make a reduction on the old account of £4O, as the Association was in debt to the amount of some £ll4.

Mr. Amoorc said the trouble commenced from the time the tariff was raised. The Association had paid £437 to the three Taranaki boards last year. lin the discussion it was pointed out by Mr. G. W. Browne that each patient cost the Board Gs ly.d per diem, and the friendly societies members paid only 5s a day. Mr. J. Brown expressed the opinion that the Board would be a loser by the winding up of the Association. Mr. Hill favored acceding to the request. After some discussion, during which it seemed that the majority of the board was 1 in favor of meeting the Association's wishes, it was decided not to pass any resolution on the matter, preferring to leave it until the election of the new Board a couple of months hence. It was pointed out that any decision come to -would have to be ratified by the Hawera and Stratford Boards. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

Mrs. M. Farrar, manager of the Old People's- Home, reported that there were now 25 male and C female inmates. Four iiad been admitted during the month and five had left. Discipline had been good, except in the cases of three male inmates. . MEDICAL REPORT.

The medical superintendent, Dr. H. B. Leatham, reported that 26 patients' had been' admitted to the hospital during the month, 31 were discharged, and four died. Sixteen operations had been performed. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. W. P. Nieoll forwarded £2 10s 6d, the proceeds of an entertainment given by Messrs. Cooper and fyf'.,oks in aid of the hospital funds ie.. J&vember last

The Treasury notified, payment of subsidy amounting to £290 lis 3d. The resignation of the assistant gardener was accepted and the chairman was empowered to fill the vacancy. An application from the wardsman at the Old People's Home for an increase in his salary was held ou-. pending the election of the new Board. Accounts were passed for pavment: Hospital, £502 4s lOd: Home, £lB7 Us 2d.