HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1724, 14 April 1888, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of tbia Baard >waa held on Wednesday. Present—Mesira J. Jackson (Ohairmao), Balfour, Barkar, Moore, and Dr Lovegrove. Meaira McLaren and Site, both Waimate member**, sent apologise for noa-attendance. Mr Sydney Davias was appointed tbe Board's collector in the loom of Mr J. 0. Micpberson, resigned. Mr Barker tabled the following noticea of motion ; —" That applicants for medical or charitable aid free of coat must sign a decluration atating their inability to pay at present and willingness to do ao; that the monthly-published boipitai returns in* elude charitable aid caiea showing names, district from wbieh the cases come, and whether paying or not paying;" and "That the monthly returns laid on the tabl* show only those patients admitted to the hospital during tbe preceding month and the suras due by then, and that the returna for previous months be also submitted to tbe masting, and that at each meeting tbe collector be instructed to take proceedings against some of those who are io a position to pay and refuse to do so."

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Moore, aecondad by Mr Basker, that the estimates of expenditure for hospital and charitable aid for the|year ending March 31, 1839, aa presented, and amounting to £6793 18s 2d, be adopted ; also that the requisite demands for payment by local bodies be made.

Hie estimated receipts showed that donationa, rents, etc., were expected to produce £212 10s ; subsidy due from GoTemtuent, £1777 10s; contributions from local bodies, £2401 19s Id; and subsidy on same for a like amount, the grand total being £6793 Its 2d. In estimating the expenditure, the Board first of all made provision for wiping off their overdraft of £1239 2s 7d; then to the Timaru Hospital is allocated £2229, and to Waimate £3BO. iot charitable aid the Geraldine County is given £IOSO ; Timaru Borough, £750; aimate County and Borough, £640; deatitute wards, £l7O 15b 7d; Mackenzie County, £100; and " building," £75. For law costs, stationery, postage, etc., £l6O is reserved. The charitable aid return for the year just closed showed that in the whole district 48 males, 97 females, and 297 children, or a total of 442 persons, had been recipients at the Board's hands. The annual cost had been: Timaru, £655 5s lid; Levels,' £545 12s 6d ; Temuka and Winchester, £230 5s 8d; Geraldine and Peel Forest, £220 8s 2d ; Waimate County, £37112a 2d ; Waimate Borough, £l7O 2i id ; Mackenzie, £6l 17s 3d; tbe grand total this £226545. For 1887 tbe total figures were £1989 17s sd, an increase thua being shown on the year just closed for " charitable aid "of £275 6s 7d. Of this increase the Levels showed the largest amount, charitable aid for the year 1888, as compared with 1887, showing an increase of £139. Timaru showed an increase of £B6, and Waimate County £ls, while Waimate Borough for the aame period showed a decrease of £9 (shillings and pence omitted in all cases). An analysis of the werking expenses of tbe Timaru Hospital shows that the number of patients treated during the year was 158 males and 67 females, tbe daily average number of patients beiDg 26.63. The out-patieats treated during the year numbered 267 males and 314 females. Fifty-two patients paid all or part of their maintenance, amounting to £163 19s 9d. Donations amounting to £4 4b were received at the hospital, and the daily average cost of each patient was ss, but the repayments reduce it to 4s Bd. For the year provisions cost £575 16s sil; fuel, £lO9 2s 6d ; drags, £240 8s 5d (including £5412s 8d for ice); furniture, £l4l lis 6d; staff salaries, £849 5«. These were the principal figures, the grand total of working ex* penses for the year being £242410s sd. The Board considered several charitable aid cases, and then adjourned.