The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-15 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

BOARD OF GI:AB,DIANS.—Mr J. Brinton, M.R,
presided at the meeting of the loar I on l'nesday.—
A discus-ion took place wlth tegar I to th- admis-
sion ot persons suffering from infect-tou3 diseases to
the Workhouse HoQpital. and it was incidentally
mentioned that a ca-e of smaltpox had occurred in
the town, but of a mild type. Mr. I.onge, poor-law
inspector, who was present, said tae Guardians
had only t provide sufficient accommodation for
infectious cases to meet the requirements of the
workhouse itself, and anything beyond that should
be undertaken by the Sanitary Authority. They
were not called upon to provide, nor did the law
allow them to provide more accommodation for
such cases than was r quisite for the indoor poor,
Mr. Giles said, as representing tne rural Sanitary
kuthority, he thought their opinion was that it
was not desirable to provide hospital accommoda-
tion when they had no power to send non-pauper
cases theie. Mr. Longo said there was power to
send non-pauper cases to a hospital provided by the
Sanitary Authority, but no power to send p iup-r
cases. iMr. Giles asked at whose expense it would
be if non-pauper cases were removed by force?
Mr. L age said, as a mat er of f ict, the question of
force did not apply, as persons were glad to go.
The Chai man said he thougot the Board might
recomme id the Rural Sanitary Authority and the
Urban Authori•ies in the Union to c mAder what
at tpsshoaid ba taken in event of an epidemic
breaking out. Alderman Binnian said the Sanitary
Authority at Kidderminster had given the full st dis-
eretiJn try power to the medical officer regard
to the case of small-pox which had oc urred, with
the view of wamping out the disease. They were
contemplating pro;iding a proper place where in-
factious cases could b stn., and he dare say they
should be willing to join he Rural Authority in
the matt,r. A res avian was passed authorising
the !newer of the house to la fuse admission to the
Infectious Hospital to any person other than
paupers suffering fr inf c•ious disease; that the
district medical officers be informed of the limited
accommodation for d aling with pauper cases at the
Workhouse Hospital and that the maser be emn
powere i to engage a tempoiary nurse to attend ia
fectiais cases, if found necessary. —A notifieation
was received fr au the County ,Asylum that the
weekly charge for pauper patients from January 1
would be 7s 7d, instead of 7s 31, as at presen.,
The hairman said this would still be the lowest
charge with one or two exceptions, of any of the
asylums in the kingdom.—A further payment of
£l,OOO to the builder on account ot his con ract was
ordered. With regard to the runaway poor rate
coll. c or, Arthur Tompkins, of Stourport, the clerk
stated that the police were under the impression he
had left the kingdoni and was in America. The
auditor certified there was £235 14s 10d due from
Tomkins on the April rate, and it was supposed hr.
had al o r ceived about £6O of the October rate.
It was resolved to apply to Tomkins's sureties for
tile £2OO for which they were reap nsible, and a
O )over,ation took place as to the possible respon-
sibility of the overseers for the remainder of the
money. It was resolved, subj, ct to the approval of
the Local Government Board, to offer a reward of
£5O ior the arrest of Tomkins.