WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2264, 13 January 1887, Page 2

WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

A si'kciai, meeting of the board was held at tho Hamilton Borough Chambors yesterday. Present: Messrs W. A. Graham (chairman), J. Gwynneth, A. Primrose, J. B. Teasdale, F. C. Germann and S. T. Seddon. Tho Chairman, before the meeting opened, said it unfortunately happened that Mr Hay, the board's solicitor, was absent on business at Raglan. He was however of opinion that the board was legally constituted, and might as well go on exercising its functions. Messrs Gwynneth and Primrose concurred with the chairman. The opinion of Mr 11. D. Bell, of the firm of Izard and Bell, Wellington, upou the legal status of the board waylaid upon the table. Mr Bell was of opinion that the local bodies of Waikato are liable to contribute to the Auckland Board until the 81st March. He held that the United Board had been legally constituted. _ Afc the same time the Waikato Board is liable for the care of its sick and destitute, as tho Auckland and Thames Boards can exercise no functions in Waikato. He alluded to the difficulty of interpreting the Act of 1880, which he characterised as a most extraordinary one. He recommended the Waikato Board to at once make the required subdivisions, preparo its estimates and allocate the amount of the contributions of the various local bodies. The Chairman said their course was perfectly clear. They should act on the concluding piece of advice given by Mr Bell He prepared a series of resolutions which he would rnnv proceed to move. The fistr resolution was as follows t—" That under the powers vested in thein by section 21 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions Act, 1895, the district of Waikato Hospital and Charitable Act Board do hereby resolve that they have ascertained tha amount of the expenditure required for the inaintaniance'of institutions, and for the distribution of Charitable Aid thereon up to the 31st day day of March, 1887." In connection with this resolution he had prepared the following estimate :— Waikato District. Estimate of required expenditure for Hospital and Charitable Aid, for the year ending 31st March 1888, House Surgeon ... £500 Permanent Secretary and Relieving Officer £150 ! , j

Two female nuroes £120 One porter and other duties £100 Medical expenses £150 Hospital Charitable Aid ... £500 Rent £56 ESTIMATKI) V.\I,UKS OF RATEABLE PHOFKiiTiKS in Subdivisions, valubd at ]-12th op a pknnv in the £. £ s. d Waikato County, £799,823 ... 277 14 7 Waipa County, £089,552 ... 238 18 8 Raglan County 80 16 7 Piako (rough) 425 0 0 £1059 9 11 He had fell it his duty to lay the statement before them together with the resolution, and it was now for the board to discuss the point. Mr Germann and Mr Seddon regretted the absence of the Piako and Raglan Members. The former would like to see all the members present to discuss so important a matter. The Chairman said the meeting had been properly convened, and as there was a quorum they were entitled to so on. Mr Gwynneth said Mr Williams, one of the Piako members, had been suddenly called to Auckland.

The Chairman said they must make their estimate, and allocate the amount of the contributions. There could be no differential rating. He dwelt at considerable length upon the whole question under consideration, and a long discussion ensued. Mr Germann was of opinion that the amount proposed to be allocated was too large. When they considered the small number of patients requiring hospital treatment, it seemed very hard to ask the ratepayers to pay as much as laid down in the chairman's estimate. The people of Waipa would certainly not consider the change a very great improvement if they had to pay half as much as they paid to Auckland. Mr Seddon said it was absurd to say that the change would not be beneficial. It had been predicted that Waikato's contribution of the Auckland next year would be over £500.

Mr Germann said Waipa was assessed at £500 by the Auckland Board, and at £238 in the chairman's estimate. Mr Gwynneth said there was a great difference between £500 and £238. Mr Primrose said they could not get a hospital without paying for it. The Chairman, at some length, pointed out that they must act promptly and firmly. They had been charged in the press with separating themselves from Auckland for the purprse of escaping from their liabilities ; he hoped the board would show that they had not deserved such a charge. But if they did not assert themselves and show that they were a reality, he thought it extremely probable that they jiigtit, be reabsorbed into the Auckland district. He moved the first resolution.

Mr Seddon seconded the motion which he strongly supported. Mr Germann suggested that the rate might be made lower, as if necessary they could tnake a further levy.

Mr Seddon said the Act made no provision for a special levy, except in tha event of an outoreak of an epidemic. After some other discussion Mr Germann pointed out that the amount set down for hospital suageon was £500, which was £300 a year more than was paid to Dr Bond, the House Surgeon of the Auckland Hospital. Mr Seddon was quite certain Mr Germann was labouring under a delusion. It was incredible that a doctor would receive so small a salary. A conversational discussion ensued in the course of which Messrs Germann and Teasdale said the effect of introducing a highly paid rr.edical man would be to injure the doctors in other parts of the district. They thought a doctor could be subsidised. Mr Gwynneth said that unless some rule were adopted for the conduct of the meet» ing they would never get away by the train. He suggested that no member be allowed to speak more than once upon one subject. In respect of the doctor question, it would be quite time to discuss it when they were going to appoint one. The resolution was put and carried, Mr Germann alone dissenting. The Chairman then moved the second resolution as follows:—"That under tho powers conferred on them by section 25 of the Hospital aud Charitable Institutions Act, ISSS, Amendment Act, 1886, tha District of Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board do hereby resolve that for the purposes of facilitating levying and collection of contributions and the distribution of charitable aid, the Waikato Hospital District bo divided into the following sub-divisions, viz.: Sub-division 1, County of Piako, comprising all the land and ratable property comprised within the County of Piako as at present constituted to be Piako sub-division. Sub-division 2, County of Waikato, comprising all the land and ratable property within the County of Waikato as at present constituted, to be called the Waikato sub-division. Subdivision 3, County of Waipa, comprising all the land and ratable property within the County of Waipa as at present constituted, to be called the Waipa sub-division. Subdivision 4, County of Raglan, comprising all the land and ratable property within the County of Raglan as at present constituted, to be called the Raglan sub-division.

Sub-division 5, Borough of Cambridge, comprising all the land and ratable property within the Borough of Cambridge as at present constituted, to be called the Cambridge sub-division. Sub-division (>, Borough of Hamilton, comprising all the land and ratable property within the Borough of Hamilton as at consti? tuted, to be called the lfi\iiii]tqn. sub» division." Mr Priinrase drew attention to the position of Raglan, where the Counties Act was not in operation. Mr Gei'uiann said they would get over the difficulty if they made the road boards• the contributory bodies instead of the counties. Mr Primrose said the counties of Raglan and Waikato would still have to be assessed for their outlying districts. Mr Gwynneth said it would be better to assess the counties, and these could assess the road districts. Mr Geirnanu said it woujd be uq use ta ask the Kaplan Council for nton.ey, They had owed Wnipa tMO for some years, and nothing could be got out of them. Waipa had applied to the Government, but the reply they got was that the Raglan County had no money coming to it. Artcr some further discussion the motion was amended, so as to make the County Council of Raglan liable for the lut-dis-tricts, and the road boards for their respective districts, and being seconded by Mr Seddon was carried. The Chairman moved, "That the District of Waikato Hospital ah'd, tJharfafcfe i\vi Board, after having.maite &U'clqc{qs'

turns required by section 24 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, ISBS, and allowed for such amount as may bo receivable from the Consolidated Fund, do hereby declare that the local authorities within the Waikato Hospital District whose names are set forth in the schedule, shall be liable to contribute to the support of the institution therein, and to afford charitable aid therein, and that they, the said board, have allocated and appointed to the said several local authorities in the said schedule (being at the rate of i-12th of a penny in the £ on the rateable value of the rateable property in such district! as the proportion which each of such local authorities shall be liable to contribute and pay to the said board. And further, that they, the said board, appoint and require that payment of the said amounts shall be made on the 14th day oi Apri/Niext to the secretary at the office of the board, Hamilton." Mr Primrose seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Mr Seddon, seconded by Mr Primrose, it was agreed that the Bank of New Zealand be the board's bank. Mr Gwynneth moved, seconded by Mr Primrose, "That applications be invited from persons willing to fill the offices of secretary and treasurer at a .salary of 4'toO, the duties of the office to be defined by the chairman. An amendment was moved by Mr Germann, and -seconded by Mr Teasdale, to the, effect that tenders be invited for tho office, the duties to be defined and explained to intending tenderers. For the amendment there voted Messrs Germann, Teasdale, and Seddon ; against, the chairman, Messrs Gwynneth and Primrose. The chairman gave his casting vote with the noes, and the amendment was lost. For the motion there j voted the chairman. Messrs Gwynneth, Primrose, and Seddon; against, Messrs ,

Germann and Teasdale. Regarding the establishment of a hospital, Mr Gwynneth understood that it was proposed to purchase a site for a permanent hospital. He did not think a permanent building was necessary yet, and be thought, further, that where there was so much public land, thoy should get a site for nothing. He quite agreed that Hamilton was the proper site for a hospital. He did not himself think that there was any advantage in having a hospital, but as the people of Hamilton seemed to think there was, the least thing they could do was to give a site. The Chairman sympathised with what Mr Gwynneth had said. He felt .assured that the Hamilton people would act liberally, but it was questionable whether they could give any of their endowments. It was so necessary, moreover, that the site Bhould suitable in every particular, that he thought.the committee appointed to select a site should be left unfettered. If it were desirable to purchase land, there was no time like the present. If the best site happened to be on Crown land they would probably get it for nothing, but thoy should not tie themselves down. Mr Gwynneth said the best site lie knew of was that between the borough chambers and the railway. This site was strongly favoured by Dr. Waddington. The Chairman said the land belonged to the Government, and had been refused to the borough. Mr Teasdale was of opinion that Mr Salmon's land on the Ohaupo road was the best site. The house now on the property would suit all the purposes of a hospital. The outlay would be small.

Mr Seddon objected to spend any money on land, and thought an excellent site might be obtained in the borough. Mr Gwynneth moved, "That the most eligible and convenient site for a hospital is at Hamilton, or suburbs." k This was seconded by Mr Seddon. Cr. Germann said it was the opinion of many in Waipa that cottage hospitals should be established at each centre, the local medical men to be subsidised. Mr Gwynneth said he would oppose any snch scheme. Mr Seddon said the idea had been condemned throughout the country, and abandoned by its originator. On the motion of Mr Gwynneth, it was resolved that the following members, viz., the chairman, Messrs Seddon, Chepmell, Teasdale, and the mover, be appointed a cormnittce to select the most suitable sites for a hospital, and report to the board at its next meeting, and that the same comlriittee select a suitable building to be used as temporary premises to ascertain the cost of all necessary furniture, &c. On the motion of Mr Gwynneth, it was resolved that the chairman make immediate, application to the Government for Lots 43, 44, and 45, Hamilton West, for the purposes of a hospital site. The chairman and Messrs Gwynneth, Primrose, and Teasdale were, on the motion of Mr Germann, appointed a deputation to wait upon Mr Ballance during his approaching visit in reference to hospital matters.

A committee was appointed to ascertain what endowments were available. The Chairman was authorised to procure a common seal. Mr Gwynneth moved that the chairman Ascertain from the several local medical men the terms upon which they will hr willing to undertake the duties of attending to the hospital, either jointly or separately. This was seconded by Mr Geniiann and carried. Mr Gwynneth brought under the notice of the board the case of two old men at Cambridge, who were fit subjects for the Old Merits Refuge. The Auckland Board had admitted that they were bound to receive these people. Mr Seddon said the effect of sending these men to Auckland would be to undo the good which might be done by resisting the claims of the Auckland Board. Mr Gwynneth agreed with this, but he brought the subject up because he did not feel justified in continuing to pay relief money without the authority of the board. The "question of the ok! man Morgan, referred to in the report of Tuesday's meeting of the Waipa County Council came up. After discussing the question, Mr Teasdale was requested to take the necessary steps to deal with the matter, and Mr Gwynneth was authorised to continue payment in connection with the two other cases. Some other business of a routine character having been transacted, the board rose.