HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2276, 22 August 1908, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual mooting of the Hospital Trustees was hold 1 i.st. night in the Council Chambers. Mr. J. W. Bright (Chuirmuu)f lion. Cupt. Tucker, Messrs B. Sliorratt, AV. D. S. AlaeDoinild, A. F. Alatthows, E. H. Mann, F. J. Lysuar, A. Dewing, and G. Burton. Dr. Wilson was uJso in aUondaneo. Tho minutes of the previous meeting woro read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Dr. Sampson telegraphed accepting the terms offered by the tho Trustees for tho position of house surgeon.— Received. A letter was read from Air. E. P. Joyce to the matron, stating that he hail forwarded an oil painting of himself to tho Hospital.—Received. In reference to the recent consideration of the refund to tlie Friendly Societies’.Conference, tho InspectorGeneral of Hospitals wrote stating he could seen objection to tho Trustees refunding tho money, and that if they desired to do so it should he to tho Conference. Air. F.. J. Lynn ir moved that tho Trustees inform tho Conference that they regretted thoy were unable to take further action in the matter. Air.'MacDonald moved as.an amendment that the amount in question bo refunded. He was under tho impression tint it was tho intention of tho Trustees at tho previous meeting to refund tho money if the InspectorGeneral recommended that thoy could legally do so. Air. Alann seconded tho motion, which was carried. Air. H. J. Brownlee forwarded plans and. specifications for the padded . room an<l w.udsman's room, which it is proposed to erect at the Hospital, and estimating tho cost at £l6o.—ln this connection the Secretary stated that he had forwarded the plans to the Inspector-General, and read a. letter from Dr. Valintino acknowledging receipt of them, and expressing his approval. —It was decided that what bad been done be approved by the meeting. Air. Brownlee further wrote regarding tho insurance of tho nurses’ home, and the additions to tho Hospital.—Received. The representatives of insurance companies interested wrote acknowledging notifications of the proposed additions. REPORTS. •Tho Treasurer’s report was received, and showed that the total ieceipts amounted to £595, and the expenditure £865, which, with accounts for payment, left an overdraft of £270.

On the motion <>f Air. Alann, seconded by Air. Lysnar, the report was adopted. Xo report was received from the Visiting Committee, but tho Chairman said that he had been at tho institution several times, when everything appeared to bo going on well. GENERAL.

All'. Dewing asked if the fire appliances had been installed, and Dr. Wilson said that nothing had been done as far as ho knew. Alessrs Darton and Dewing were appointed a committee to attend to the installation at once.

In accordance with notice of motion, Air. Alatthews moved —“That a rebate of 10 per cent, be granted to Friendly Societies and any patients paying their hospital fees in cash at time of discharge,” and in doing so referred to the difficulty at present experienced in getting in tho foes.

Hon. Capt. Tucker suggested that the time for payment be altered to “within one week of discharge.” Air. Alatthows agreed to this alteration. and the motion, seconded by Air. F. J. Lysnar, was'carried. Tho question of tho hospital social was touched upon, and als 0 the proposal to hold a “Hospital Saturday.” After discussing various dates, it was decided to call a meeting of those interested in tho social at the Council Chambers on Wednesday night. Dr. Wilson reported having made enquiries regarding an X-ray apparatus for tho Hospital, and suggesting that a dynamo bo installed to be run by the engine at present at the instituion. After discussion it was resolved that the recommendation be adopted. Air. Darton, who came in at tins stage, was, with the consent of the members, allowed to move a notice of motion which had been standing in his name, and which had lapsed earlier in the evening through his ab. sence. The Chairman pointed out to Mr. Darton that Air. Alatthews’ motion, which practically reduced the charges, had been carried. Another member interjected, “You have not got a chance.”

Mr. Darton hold, however, that as a matter of principle he must move his motion, although he supposed there was little hope of it being carried.

Tlie motion, which was that the motion passed at a previous meeting regarding increased hospital charges bo rescindod, and that the charges be reduced from 28s per week to the original -amount, eventually lapsed for want of a seconder.

Alessrs Bright- and Sliorratt were appointed tho Visiting Committee for the ensuing month, and accounts amounting to £159 10s 8d were passed for payment. Air. Alann brought up the question of the report which had been received in April from Miss McLean, As-sistant-Inspector of Hospitals, regarding the hospital staff, and embodying certain recommendations.

The Chairman explained that a committee of three had been appointed at the time to go into the matter, but nothing had been done. It was deckled by tlie meeting that this committee be discharged from further duty, and Hon. Captain Tucker proposed that the Trustees adopt- the report, and that the Chairman and the Medical Superintendent ho appointed to carry out the recommendations. . . •

A motion that the matter of the report lie considered in committee was lost by a large majority, and Mr. Matthews’ pointed out that if the recommendations contained in the report were adopted, practically the whole management of the Hospital, except the direct treatment of patients, would he in the .hands of the lady superintendent. He referred to the recent trouble over Hospital matters, and pointed out the disabilities that would arise if the report was adopted. He was not in favor of■- the suggested alterations, and if they were carried out he held that there would ho a. considerable amount of unpleasantness, and the Hospital would ho brought into disrepute,. Mr. Matthews referred to the relative positon of the charge sister and tho lady superintendent, and moved as an amendment—“ That any amendment to the existing rules that may he written by the Chairman and Medical Superintendent he referred hack to the Trustees at their next meeting.” Hon. Captain Tucker said that he would accept that amendment, and Mr. Darton asked if it was the right of the Trustees to delegate power to make new regulations. The Chairman drew attention to the position, and stated that he thought notice of motion would bo required to deal with the question. Mr. Mann thought that the first part of the ,motion, for the adoption of the report, was perfectly in order, and lie would second it. Notice of motion should he given, however, to alter tho regulations. The Chairman again said that he would have to rule the motion out of order. Some clauses in the report might, he acceptable and some might not, and the after-effects of the motion, if carried, would put them in a false position afterwards. He know that there was debatable matter in the report. After further discussion tho Chairman finaly ruled the matter out of order, and refused to allow discussion on tho report.

Mr. Mann gave notice to move at next meeting—“ That Miss McLean’s report be adopted, and that the bylaws be altered in accordance therewith.”

The meeting then terminated,