S.C. CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1864, 12 March 1889, Page 1

S.C. CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Friday. Present—Mr D. M, Ross (chairman), Dr Lovegrove, Messrs Jackson, Slee, Hayhurst, Barker, Moore, and McLaren. Dr Ewnrt, resident surgeon, and Mr Jowsey, hospital steward, were in ' attendance. The Chairman of the Geraldine Road Board, Mr W, Postlethwaite, wrote in reply to the request for remarks on certain charitable aid cases at Geraldine, stating that the road board had repeatedly made suggestions, which had not been attended to ; therefore the board declined to take any further steps in the matter.—After some discussion it was decided that the road board be asked to specify the recommendations that had not been taken notice of. The hospital steward reported that the quick fence between the hospital and the domain was being killed by the overgrowth of pines in the domain, and he suggested that an iron fence be erected, and estimated the coat at £BO. —The board thought this too expensive, and the matter was referred to a committee, a barb wire fencejaod some macrocarpa trees being suggested. Consideration was then given to the 1 following case : —A young single woman from Temuka was admitted to the hospital in 1887 suffering from a serious complaint, and left the institution but recently. An account of £lO6 was run up through this illness. Six months after her admission she was confined of a child (since dead), and on account of the confinement and the child’s illness a bill of £36 16s 6d had been incurred. The father of the child (a laborer) had been applied to, and acknowledged liability for the child, but he said the amount should be reduced, as he was not responsible for the whole of the girl’s illness. The board had agreed to accept half of the amount, on his undertaking to pay that off at the rate of £1 per month, but he bad only paid one instalment last year.—lt was decided that the father of the child had forfeited consideration by breaking his agreement, and it was resolved to «ak the father of the young woman to attend the next meeting and show cause why he should not pay the cost of maintaining his daughter in the hospital. Hospital accounts, £l7O 3s 3d, and charitable aid accounts, £l6l 9j 2d, wore passed for payment. The secretary stated that tha overdraft was £9lO 2s 10d, with a Government subsidy of £I2OO due on the other side. Acommittee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Jackson, Slee, Moore, Barker, and Dr Lovegrove, was appointed to draw up the annual estimates for the coming year, to report to a meeting on or before the 30th inst., also to interview the domain board re fence.

Mr Moore brought up the question of consultations. He understood that a good many people who could pay private practitioners were taking advantage of the resolution passed last year fixing a consultation fee of 7s 6d.—Mr McLaren said he understood that some persons had been going many times on one ticket.— The secretary, Mr Lough, said only in 6 cases out of 300.—After some further discussion, during which it was stated that the board never intended to establish a wholesale medical establishment for the community, Mr Barker suggested that the matter might bo left until the abuse became worse, and this was agreed to. The applications for the post of resident surgeon were then read, and the selection proceeded with, Thera were six applications, from DrsP. J. Power (of Akaroa), W. H. Maclean (of Wuikari, Ocago), C. B. limes (of Napier), B. S. Lawson (now visiting at Geraldine), J. R. Eraser (Christchurch), and Stewart (Woodville). —Dr Lawson was appointed after considerable discussmn.

The following reaolutioD, moved by the chairman, was carried unanimously: “ That this board place on record the very able and efficient manner in which Dr Ewart has discharged the duties of resident surgeon to the Timaru Hospital during the two years he had Ike office, and the appreciation by the board of the doctor’s skilful, successful, and kindly treatment of patients in the hospital/'

Charitable aid cases wore then taken. In that of one the clerk said that £1 a week was paid, the case being an exceptional one. The recipient wished to obtain a section on perpetual lease, but had not the 30a fee for lease and registration. The board was asked to advance this. The application was not entertained. A widow at Wairaate was granted 40 rations per month for three months. In the following oases the board decided to stop aid Waimale : No. lis fond of drink, and is leading an immoral life ; 2 has a grown-up family and freehold property ; 3 has a grown-up family; 4 has husband home again ; 5 has benefit of protection order. Temuka : In three cases to give rations—not money, »s heretofore. Arowhenua : Stop aid in one case, as recipient is “ strong and healthy;” in three cases rations to Be given—not cash. The meeting then terminated.