S.C HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2748, 8 December 1894, Page 2

S.C HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The first meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board as recently reconstituted was held at the hospital on Wednesday morning. There were present only Messrs J. Jackson (chairman), Gillingham, Coltman and Talbot. An apology was received from Mr White. Mr J. Jacksonjwas re-elected chairman. It being decided to transact the ordinary business, the chairman said the bank 1 account was now £l7 10s 7d overdrawn, 1 and the accounts for the day, charitable ; aid, £2OO 18s, and hospital £193 3s lid, would make it £4ll 12s fid. He hoped that some of the local bodies would pay their contributions before the accounts ’ were paid. Mr Coltman stated that the Waimata Hospital Board were now oat of lands,.. i and would like to have their oontribntion • i forwarded.—lt was promised that the amount required should "be sent daring the month. » The chairman drew attention to the remarks made at the meetings of the Geraldine and Levels County Councils, as to the liability of Levels County to oon- , tribute. A discussion took plaoe on the L circumstances, and the result was a decision . to await the development of the ease by i the local bodies concerned. Members had, ■ no doubt that the oontribntion wonld be ' forthcoming from one source or other. 1 A telegram from Dr McGregor stated - that the representation of the Levels * district cannot be altered till October nex!t. The Mayor of Timarn and Major Moore [ were appointed visitors, and the chairman , and Messrs Moore, Gillingham and Hill , were appointed a finance committee. The steward reported that Mr Murdoch ! had completed painting the female wud, * and had made an excellent job of it. The i chairman visited the trard before the 1 meeting and expressed much satisfaction . > with the appearance of the ward which ’ Mr Jowseyhad enlivened with pictures, 1 and with statuettes and beautiful vases [ placed in niches in the end walls. A discussion took place upon the small ; proportions of receipts from patients m . compared with the average for the oolony, i this hospital being sixteenth ont of 39. i Patients’ payments here averaged 9| per i cent, last year. Wanganui was highest > with 35 per cent, Oamarn was lower with 9 per cent. Inveroaagill recovered only 4 ’ per cent. The secretory described some 1 typical eases to show the) difficulties met | with in recovering. claims. In reference to the returns sent ont to local bodies for | information, he stated that he discontinued sending them out because the [ majority never took any notice of them in ■ the way of assisting the board, as the i intention was. Members expressed their determination to recover something bom every patient who could be fonnd able to 1 pay anything, and a resolution was passed that the father of a child who was treated some time ago (and who made many | promises), be pressed for a portion at least of the debt. Tenders were opened for the purchase of the old hospital buildings, West Belt: Borford £2 lOu, D. McKenzie £5 6s, W. Batterworth £7, J. Targase £lolos, —Tuite’ (lessee of the ground) £l6.—The tender of Tuite was accepted,. and the board determined that the buildings mast be removed as specified. The secretory submitted a full report upon a visit to a large number of the recipients of charitable aid and the boarded ont children in conutry districts. It was agreed to send to each member extracts relating to oases in their respective districts, for their comments ahd suggestions; the report with members’ comments to be brought up and discussed at a future meeting. A few charitable aid cases were dealt with. A good deal of disgust was expressed at a report that a woman in one of the townships is about to be confined of another illegitimate child, the board already paying for six of her children at Burnham at a cost of over £IOB a year. It was decided that the board shall meet as heretofore on the third Tuesday-in each month at 11.15 a.m. Accounts were passed for payment, and the,board rose.