WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2405, 8 December 1887, Page 2

WAIKATO DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Tub annual Hireling of the above Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday at 11 a.m. The following members were present Messrs W. A. lira ham (in the chair), Primrose, Seddon, McDonald and Gwynaeth. The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and the retiring member, Mr Owynneth, for tbe able manner in which they had carried out their functions, and the old Board then retired. Tub Nbw Board. —The following gentlemen have been chosen by the various Local Bodies as their representatives on the Hospital Board Hamilton, Mr W. A. Graham (re-elected); Piakn County, Messrs Chopmeli (re-elected) and Brmiakill; Waikato County, Messrs S. T. Heddon and A. Primrose (re-elected); Waipa County, Messrs W. Hunter Senr. (re-elected) and Jim. Ridler; Cambridge, Mr Jas. Hally, Mayor; Raglan County, Mr J. K. McDonald (re-elected). Chairman.— On the motion of Mr Primrose, seconded by Mr Ohepmell, Mr Graham was unanimously re-elected to the office of chairman.—Air Graham thanked the Board for the honour they had conferred on him. Correspondence.— A letter was received from the Minister for Public Works, in reply to one sent by the Board, asking that a clause should be inserted in Government contracts, compelling contractors to provide an Hospital Fund for the men on their works, stating he understood that the men on all the Government contracts subscribed freely to an accident fund, and as there was a great deal of opposition to burdening contracts, he did not see how the clause could well be inserted. Proposed Amendment to Act.— Air J. B. Whyte wrote with reference to amending the Act so that the local bodies could elect representatives to the Board should vacancies occur during the year, that the amendment before the House at present dealt entirely with the fixing of new districts, but that he would do his utmost to have the Act amended. Applications for Relief.— Rev. W. Evans, of Cambridge, applied for charitable aid for Mrs Sutherland, a widow with six children, four of whom were very young.—Mr Hally stated that he had not had time to inquire into this case.—lt was resolved, should Air Hally think the case a deserving one, that he be impowered to grant relief at the rate of 2s Cd per week till the next meeting of the Board.— Archdeacon Willis wrote applying for relief for Henry Webber, who is suffering from chronic rheumatism, and unable to do anything for himself. Mr Hally said he had enquired into this case, and learnt that the applicant had two sons, one at work in Cambridge, who contributed 3s 6d per week to the support of his father, under an order from the Court, and the other at Ngaruawahia, who should, under an order from the Court, contribute os per week, but who was now £3 in arrears. Webber did not seem desirous of pressing the son at Hgaruawahia for the money that he was in arrears. Air Seddon stated that Webber had property in Hamilton. —On the motion of Air AlcDonald, seconded by Air Seddon, it was resolved that no action be taken in this case.

H. Missen. —Mr Primrose having enquired into this case, it was resolved that relief be renewed at 5s per week till next meeting of the Board. Renewal of relief was granted to Mrs Paris, at the rate of 2s Gd per week, and Mrs McMahon 5s per week, till the next meeting of the Board. Hospital Fdnd at Tunnel Contract. —Mr McDonald said that in reply to enquiries made by him about this fund collected by Mr A. O’Brien, he had ascertained that the sum of £GO had been collected from the men on the works, and no disbursement of the money had been made. But as the money would have been paid into the Boards Funds only as a voluntary conribution they could take no action towards recovering it. The chairman’s report was read and adopted. Hospital Endowments.— lt was resolved that the Board applies to the Government to have all Hospital endowments in this district vested in the Board. Hospital Charges.— Mr Mac Donald asked how it was that the charges in this Hospital were 4s per diem, while in Auckland patients were only charged 14s per week. In reply Mr Graham said that he understood that 4s per diem was the regular charge all over the colony as that was demanded from this Board by both the Auckland and Invercargill Boards. Mr Chopmell said that he had been informed by ex-patients that there are three different scales of charges at the Auckland Hospital varying from 4s to 2s per diem ; that no doubt when the patient was able to pay the highest scale was charged, but the one commonly charged was the middle one or about £1 per week. Finance Committer.— On the motion of Mr Ohepmell, seconded by Mr Hally, Messrs Graham, Primrose, and Seddon were re-elected a Finance Committee. House Committee.— On the motion of Mr Ohepmell, seconded by Mr J. K. McDonald, Messrs Graham, Primrose and Seddon were re elected as House Committee. —Mr McDonald proposed that the thanks of the Board be accorded to the late House and Finance Committees tor the satisfactory manner in which they had carried out their work. Seconded by Mr Ohepmell, and carried unanimously. Accounts. Accounts to the amount of £IQ4 7s lid were passed for payment. Purchase op Site and Buildings.— Mr McDonald, in pursuance of notice given at last meeting, moved that this Board for the purpose of raising funds to purchase the Hospital and grounds, take the necessary steps to abtain a loan in accordance with clause 32 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885. Mr McDonald in bringing this forward said he did so fortvvo reasons, first because of the suitability of the site, secondly on the score of economy, as the present site can be purchased at the low price of £750, and if this money could be borrowed at 6 per cent, a clear £SO per annum in rent would be saved. Mr Seddon seconded this motion, and said in doing so, in addition to the remarks made by the mover, that he was in favour of purchasing the present site, as the Board had now spent over £2OO on it, and would have to continue to spend more. Mr Primrose said that he did not agree entirely with the motion, but thought that the best way to raise the money was to increase the Hospital rate for the ensuing year, by £SOO, as this distributed over the various local bodies in the district would not fall heavily on any one, and then the Government would grant £SOO subsidy, but if the £IOOO were borrowed nothing would be granted by the Government. In reply Mr McDonald said that by carrying out his proposal, the Board would begin to save at oqoe, and then they could still levy the extra Jjs()o in iVfarqh. The motion was then put to the meeting. Ayes; Messrs McDonald and Seddon. Noes: Messrs Graham, Primrose, Ridler, Hally, Brunskill and Ohepmell. The motion was therefore declared lost. Insurance. —It was decided that the matter of insurance on the surgical instruments and furniture in the Hospital be left in the hands of the House committee. Notice of Motion.— Mr Primrose to move at next meeting of the Board that the Board proceed at once to ascertain the amount of expenditure required for the maintenance of the institutions ip the district and for the distribution of charitable aid therein up to the last day of March, 1889, and for such other business relating to the same which may be brought before the Board, as required by clause 21 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act. The Board then rose.