S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2072, 15 July 1890, Page 2

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held last Friday, Present—-Messrs W. M. Moore (in the chair), D. M. Ross, M. Quinn, D. McLaren, R. A. Barker, and Dr Hogg. INVOKING THE LAW. The Oamaru board refused to pay a claim for £8 10s made in respect of a man who came from Oamaru about five days less than six months before he became chargeable to this board. The Oamaru board declined responsibility on the ground that the man had not lived in their district for the six months next before he became a charge.— The facts to be laid before the board’s solicitor, and the amount to be sued for if he advises that course. The Dunedin board declined responsibility respecting an old man, a recipient of charitable aid, who had come from Dunedin and become chargeable here, but the fact that he came from Dunedin was not discovered till after six months had elapsed and the Dunedin board therefore repudiated the notice of claim.—This case to be referred to the board’s solicitor. A man named A. Anderson, of Leeston, wrote refusing to pay the claim for hospital treatment of his deppq,sp4 brother, 1>47 7s sd.—This matter also to he laid before the solicitor, OHAEITABLE AID. Three offers to take children to board were received. £h.e Peel Road Board asked that the foe# ifo/# e S be consulted about the distribution ,<?f aid ia their respective districts.—ft was agreed that $9 suggestion should be acted upon, Mr 8. Wolf wrote respecting balance of £5 Os 3d of a fund collected by the Garrison Band on the death of Bandsman Watts, offering to hand it to the board, with a suggestion that it be invested for the children, who are nos? jfo charge of the board.—lt was resolyed t,Q the members of the band for their atfoutfou fo the matter, and that the secretary receiye the amount and also realise a few assets left on the decease of Mrs Watts, and j place both sums k tp th e general ac-! count in the meantime.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. A petition signed on behalf of 240 Oddfellows, 300 Foresters, 80 Hibernians, and 151 Druids was presented by Mr D. M. Eesa. These were backed up by country members, making in all 951 members. The petition asked that members of benefit societies should be allowed to consult the hospital doctor free of charge, and that they should be asked no more than £1 per week for treatment in the hospital. They asked these privileges on the ground that they saved a considerable sum annually to the ratepayers in making provisions for themselves in the event of accident or sickness. In presenting the petition Mr Boss spoke strongly in support of it. '■ v r v

Mr McLaren was surprised at Mr Boss supporting such a petition- If be had been a clap-trap politician, seeking £2OO a year for going to Wellington he could have understood it, bat knowing Mr Boss was not one of these he could not. It amounted to these' people asking for a bribe to be offered to industry and thrift. They asked the ratepayers to relieve them of so much of the cost of keeping them in the hospital if they had to go there, because they were thrifty people. He contended that everyone who showed bis thrift by becoming possessed of property or of a deposit in a savings bank was equally deserving of the same consideration.

Mr Boss asked Mr McLaren to withdraw the word “ bribe,” There was no such motiye in the minds of the petitioners. What they really meant was that the charge at present was too high, and chat anyone should be admitted for 20s a week, as 35s a week was too much for a working man to pay. With wages at 6s a day, 36s a week, how could a working man after leaving the hospital pay 85s a week ? The petitioners desired the charge to be reduced to a reasonable amount so that a man might be:able to pay it, and avoid being treated as a pauper. Mr Boss continued that if a working man had by thrift managed to get a house of his own, or any pro* perty, he remained liable to the board and might lose his home. It was simply a question whether the charge should not be lower to a working man, a member of a friendly society especi* ally. "

Dr Hogg suggested that the various Friendly Societies should by. a special contribution raise a “ hospital fund ” A contribution of 2£d per week per member would provide a fund sufficient to maintain an average of six patients at 5s per day all the year round. There could not possibly be such an average, but that was the basis he had reckoned on, and he thought the members would find so small a contribution no hardship. Mr Moore said that he had met delegates from the Geraldine lodges. The beet conclusion they; arrived at-* was that if the charge was reduced to £1 a week, the lodges should be re* sponsible for the amount He would not agree to any reduction in their case unless they guaranteed to payy the fixed amount in every case. Mr Quinn admitted that the societies deserved consideration, provided abuses could be guarded against. He suggested that a committee be appointed to confer with the societies. Mr McLaren moved pursuant 1 to notice, to rescind all previous resolu* tions relating to fixing of fees, and this was carried. He then further moved, and Mr Quinn seconded, that the charge be the actual cost, based on the cast per patient during each proceeding year. Last year the cost was 4a 9d per patient per day, and the motion fixed this as the charge for the current year.

Further discussion took place oil this motion, Mr McLaren protesting against any “ class ” distinctions ‘at all. Mr Ross fought for a reduced fee for working men, but gave way. on being assured that, as in the past so in the future, no one would be harassed who could not pay.

Dr Hogg’s suggestion was also discussed and warmly approved, and a suggestion was made that a committee should be appointed to bring it under the notice of the societies. (The meeting however separated, leaving this undone, but the members agreed that it might be otherwise placed before the societies to save time). Charitable aid accounts amounting to £489 3s 4d, and hospital accounts £174 Os 6d were passed for payment.