MASTERTON HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9067, 16 April 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

• MONTHLY MEETING. J The Trustees of the Masterton Hospital met yesterday morning. Present—Messrs J. B. Keith (chairman), F. W. H. Kummer, H. J. O'Leary, R. Brown, W. Fisher and W. Harris. The Treasurer reported a credit balance o£ £313 9s lid. Receipts for the month totalled £852 fis 4d, and disbursements £1,074 14s lid. _ The hospital diary was read, and * showed that 19 patients were in the Hospital at last meeting, 23 had been admitted since, 22 had been discharged, leaving 20 remaining. Accounts amounting to £ll9 2s 4d were passed for payment. On the motion of the Chairman, it was resolved to proceed against two persons for fees outstanding, and it was decided to take active staps in future towards the collecting of such fees, the secretary being instructed to bring up a list of the chief defaulters at each meeting. A discussion took place on the decision of the District Board to cut down the estimates for the ensuing year. The Chairman pointed out that the Board had really acted illegally, as the course provided for them by statute in the case of their not agreeing to the amount set down for maintenance by any separate institution was contained in the Act of 1885, section.? 59 and 60, which made it mandatory for them either to accept the estimates or to appeal to the Colonial Secretary, who would institute inquiries and give a decision on the matter. Mr Fisher said the Board had followed the course which had been pursued for seven years past. He compared the estimates of the various hospitals, and contended that some of the amounts set down by the Masterton institution were absolutely ridiculous. The Trustees knew very well that if the Board allowed one hospita' any increase one year, the next year there was sure to be an increased demand from other hospitals, and there would be no stemming the tide of increases. The estimates for salaries of the Masterton institution for instance were ridiculously heavy, and even then the Board had only docked £ll4 set down for extra nursing. Then again, the Trustees had not made any distinction for the amount to be allocated for infectious diseases hospital salaries. The Chairman interjected that that was nut material to the present issue. The question was the cutting down of the tota estimate. Mr Fisher then criticised some of the amounts cut down, such as £350 for the road and grounds, and £IOO for new instruments, and asked if they could be strictly called maintenance items. The Chairman said that the Board took all responsibility in cutting these items out of the estimates. He said the position, as far as tbe Trustees were concerned, was very plain —they would be placing themselves in a false position if they accepted the Board's action He moved that the attention of the Board be called to sections 59 and 60 oi the Hospitals Act of ISSS, and that the Trustees protest against their estimates being reduced in the manner they had been. This was declared to be carried on the casting vote of the Chairman. No actua'. division was taken. The secretary was instructed to have the annual report 1 and balancesheet printed, the Chairman and Mr R. Brown being appointed to draw up the report. The questio- of the putting in order of the Hospital Road was left to Messrs Harris and Ewington. The medical officers were given permission to expend £3O in new surgical instruments. Mr Harris was appointed visiting member for the month.