Mr. Srewart—Then I under. stand that the present stock of opium is 6,900 chests, Is that cor-ret Mr. Ezra—Yes, Mr. Srewart—Mr. Esra also stated that the recent sales showed an-average price of Tls. 4,100 per chest.
Mr. Ezra—I did not say the recent sales. 1 said all the sales up to date at the average price for the lest two and a half years.
Mr. Srewart—It has been Tis.
4,100—6,000 chests, at Tls. 4,100 does not equal forty millions by a long-way.
"Mr, Kzxa—In reply to this very ingenious statement, I can say it is equivalent to thirty millions and over. So supposing it is worth thirty millions and not forty ly you-are not going to confiscate it, are your If you will give me thirty: millions I will give you the profit. (Laughter.)
"Phe Cuarrman—Does any other ratepayer wish to address the meeting? Those in favour of Mr. Little's amendment please hold up their hands. Against.
The Cwairmax—The amendment is lost. (Applause.) "Phe CHatrwax—I will now put the original Resolution V to the meeting. Those in favour of it hold up their hands. Against.
The Cwarrman—It is carried.
The Cxareman—I will now call on the mover of Resolution YA.
Dr. Covrer Parrick—Mr. Chairman, the resolution which I have to propose this afternoon is in the following term Resolution V. (a).—That the Council be authorized to erect an additional wing already planned for the Isolation Hospital at a cost of Tuels 65,000, and be authorized to use it, or such part of it as may be required, as a Tuberculosis Hospital until experience shall indicate what permanent provision may best be made, and that Taels 65,000 be added for this purpose to the amount of the Loan authorized under the preceding Resolution. and no exact duplicate will be attempted. The second part of the Resolution is, that the Council are authorized to use it as a Tuberculosis Hospital. One need not labour Mr. Chairman, I find myself at this stage the necessity for such here this afternoon in much a hospit: I think the community more favourable circumstances is at one in that matter, but it has than when I stood here on been criticized by Dr. Stanley and this platform a year ago. This some of my colleagues, especially resolution is the logical outcome of the idea of using" such an the suggestions which I made when hospital for the treatment of addressing you last year and hap-chronic lung disease. Dr. Stanley pily I find that on conversation with said there is no precedent for that. the Health Officer and with a num-have a text book on the subject ber of others, who were then incline dated last year, and I find that the ed to disagree with me on the main author who was a permanent points before the meeting Inst year, that they are now in agreement official of the British Local Government "Board and therewith me. The Ratepayers at that. fore entitled to speak with aumeeting accepted my advice and thority, says: "During the last prevented a sanitary crime being two decades the practice has been committed in the shape of crowding to use isolation hospitals, especial-the buildings on a small area—on an ly at times when their beds would area which was entirely inadequate for the purpose which they were otherwise be unoccupied, for cases intended to carry out. The Council, of phthisis (pulmonary tuber. in the Budget this year, have allotculosis). It does not require that ted a certain sum for children's the whole hospital be given up to tuberculosis, but that a separate playgrounds. 1 would gladly have block be spared for that purpose."' seen it ten times more. Last year /That is what we want. they also allotted a certain sum for a park, That also I am glad of.
He says again in another pae-And Tam glad that I prevented sage: "The accommodation in the them from building over a small nallpox hospital may, however, be utilized at times when the disease piece of ground for the nurses and patients in the Isolation Hospital is absent, as a sanatorium for cases After I spoke last year, the Chair-of pulmonary tuberculosis." man of the Council criticized me in I think that is sufficiently authoritative for us to ask the rate-one point—that my remarks were exceedingly long. When I read the payers to authorize this use of the report 1 found myself in agreement building temporarily until it shall with him, and to-day I shall be as be found what is the best way to concise as I can, There are five proceed in the future. The third points in the resolution. The first point in my resolution is that the that the Council be authorized figure, Tls. 65,000, be appropriated. to erect an additional wing already That figure is taken from last planned. That wing is needed now. year's report, and as the resolution Patients are being treated in what has been in the hands of the Coun. are intended to be quarters for the cil for the past twelve days and not nurses. The quarters were available been changed by them I think we and the nuxes did not need them may-take it that it is approximately and because there was no other correct. As to the charges for accommodation, the patients were carrying on, that has been men-placed there. That is not a suitable tioned as probably Tls, 18,000. That thing to carry on, and I am glad to is a matter which experience and know that the Health Officer agrees which the ordinary work of the with me that it is time to put a stop Health Department will show. The to it. This additional wing is fourth item in the resolution plan The word planned as in that "until experience shall indi-the Resolution, is not intended to cate what provision shall best apply that an exact duplicate will made." This experience will be erected on a site available. Ten accumulative in many different years' experience is at the disposal ways—by the work of the Health of the Health Officer. The Matron Office, watching what is being done of the Isolation Hospital, Miss in the wards, reports of the nurses Bradford, who has more knowledge, and the matron in charge as to perhaps, of the needs of the hospital, how the hospital is being used, by in the work of nursing patients members of the medical profession than any other body, is able to is attending patients, by such socie-give her advice to Dr. Stanley on ties as the King's Daughters' So-those matters. Miss Bradford, we ciety working in the homes of th+ are glad to know, is recovering people from which the cases come from a serious illness she has had. and by house owners letting acoomand which has been the cause of modation for people and finding great concern to all who have had that space let for five may be used the privilege of working with her. for fifteen. All these organiza Dr. Stanley invites from the doctors tions and others will be able suggestions for the forthcoming acquire experience of what is being erection and these will be utilized done and what ought to be done for inal from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.