Central Otago Hospitals Board.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 372, 25 June 1903, Page 5

Central Otago Hospitals Board.

The annual meeting of the above Board was held in the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Thursday afternoon last; when there were present:Messrs W Laidlaw, J Butler, J Horn (representing Vincent County), R Johnstone, J B Smith, F Kinney, R Logan (representing Maniototo County) and • Geo Spencer (representing the boroughs of Alexandra, Naseby, and Cromwell). The Chairman of the Board (Mr W. Laidlaw) presided. The Chairman referred to the death of Mr H. Partridge, and regretted the loss of such a valuable member from the Board's table.

On the motion of Mr Logan, seconded by Mr Butler, it was resolved that the Board place on record its sense of regret at the loss sustained by the death of Mr H. Partridge. Mr W. C. Pitches was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy, and took his seat at the table.

The Chairman congratulated Mr Pitches on his election, and the latter suitably replied. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr Smith asked if there were any special reasons why the annual meeting for the election of chairman should be held in December. Why could not the chairman be elected at the present meeting, and thus save unnecessary expense 1 . The clerk read section 10 of the Act, which provided for the statutory meeting being held in December. Mr Johnstone recognised the importance of having a local chairman, but he should be appointed at the annual meeting. Mr Logan said he understood there was a tacit understanding among members not to attend the statutory meeting, so that it would lapse, and thus allow all the business to be done at the annual meeting. The chairman said he had no idea of stealing a march on the other members, but he understood all the members had been notified.

A letter was read from Dr Mason, stating that concessions in railway fares would be made to indigent persons wishing to go to the Hot Springs. On the motion of Mr Logan, seconded by Mr Kinney, it was resolved that the Board approve of the chairman's action in connection with the changes on the medical staff of the St Bathans hospital.

The chairman referred to the necessity for a cottage hospital at Ophir, but Mr Logan objected, on a point of order, to this being then dealt with. The chairman then read the requisitions from the various district hospitals.

Mr Johnstone moved That the requisitions be passed in Smith objected to this course, as there were some items that required looking into. —The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr Logan took exception to several items on the Oromwell and Dunstan requisitions. They should require some fuller information regarding the items. , Mr Horn thought the remarks of Mr Logan were quite justified. The Board , had no right to pass any amount without knowing precisely what is was for. Mr Smith explained in detail the various items on the Naseby hospital requisition. He assured the Board that the strictest economy was obsei ved by the trustees, and that no unnecessary expenses had been charged. Moved by Mr* Pitches and seconded by Mr Horn—That the requisition of the Naseby District Hospital trustees for the sum of £448 3a 6d be approved and passed by this Board, and that the amount be paid to the treasurer of the hospital in equal quarterly payments. The motion was carried unanimously. Regarding the Cromwell requisition, Or Horn explained the items for new buildings and lavatory, which were a necessity. Mr Logan took exception to the salaries of the secretaries of the Clyde and Oromwell hospitals. It was absurd that the Naseby secretary’s salary should be £25, while that of the Dunstan secretary was £4O. He moved— That the Board dissents from the Cromwell requisition as being excessive.

. Mr Smith thought the item on the Cromwell requisition for the doctor's house rent was absurd. The doctor was in receipt of a good salary, and if he could not provide himself with a house, the sooner they got another doctor the better. It almost appeared as if the Cromwell trustees were trying to "ring the charges" on the Board.

Mr Butler seconded Mr Logan's motion.

Mr Johnstone said he did not object to the secretary getting a fair salary. It might be that the Naseby secretary was underpaid. A good deal of discussion here ensued, it being pointed out that the requisition had either to be passed in globo,er rejected. That meant the appointment of a commission, which from experience the Beard found to be expensive. Eventually, Mr Logan moved and Or Butler seconded—That this Board dissents from the requisition from the trustees ol the Cromwell District Hospital for the sum of .£1149 7s as unreasonable | and excessive and hereby appeals therefrom.

As an amendment, Mr Horn moved —That the Cromwell Hospital requisition be granted but the committee be informed that it is expected they will not pay the item " doctor's house rent £36," as this board strongly disapproves of this item and have only

passed the requisition to save a commission of enquiry, and that the hospital board be informed that this item, if it appears on next year's requisition, will cause the whole requisition to be refused. Mr Spencer 'seconded the amendment, which was carried.

Mr Fitches explained the items in the Dunstan Hospital requisition. Mr Smith objected to the items " printing and advertising" and " secretary's salary."—Mr Logan also spoke in similar terms, and objected to further charges for doctor's residence. After some discussion, Mr Kinney moved and Mr Johnstone seconded — That the requisition of the trustees of the Dunstan District Hospital for the sum of £479 10s be approved by this Board.—Harried.

hj Mr Horn moved—That the secretary write to the Dunstan and Cromwell trustees pointing out that this Board thinks £3O sufficient for secretary's salary, and that the Board disapproves of the item " office rents."—Seconded by Mr Smith and carried. Mr Logan moved—That in future secretaries of hospital trustees be requested to furnish a report to the anuual meeting of the Hospitals Board, explaining items in requisition such as " special labor " and " incidentals," " water supply," etc.—Seconded by Mr Kinney and carried. Mr Fitches asked the favorable consideration of the Board for a grant to enable the Dunstan hospital to obtain a water supply. Mr Smith thought a proper water supply was a very necessary thing. Mr Logan moved—That a rate of |d in the £ be struck on the capitalised values of the several Contributory local authorities within this district for the year ending 31st March, 1904, as under :

££ s d Vincent County ... 561,073 292 610 Mantctoto County .. 516,678 269 3 8 Alexandra Borough 113,333 59 1 0 Cromwell Borough 84,350 43 18 8 Naseby Borough ... 38,760 20 3 6 to be payable to the treasurer of the Board in equal quarterly payments.— Seconded by Mr Horn and carried. On the motion of Mr Spencer, seconded by Mr Pitches, the audited balance sheet was adopted.

Mr Burnett's notice of motion was read as follows:—That the Board make a recommendation, in the interest of convenience, economy, and goodfellowship, that that portion of schedule 1, Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act, reading " District of Central Otago," be amended to read " District of Vincent ; all that area in the colony being the county of Vincent, and all boroughs contained therein "; and that a copy of .this resolution be sent to the members for the electorates.

Messrs Logan, Smith, and Johnstone spoke strongly in favor of the motion.

Mr Horn was not in favor of the motion, as one large body would have more power than two small ones. The chairman did not think local institutions would suffer by the severance.

Mr Butler seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Logan said if severance cam* about the Maniototo members would very mush regret losing the valuable services of Mr Dickie as clerk.

The Oletk read a statement showing amounts contributed by the various contributory authorities, and the payments made to the different local bodies.

On the motion of Mr Butler, seconded by Mr Horn, it was resolved— That the chairman be instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary and M.H.R.'s for the district and try and amend the act so that the board be empowered to strike out any item in requistions that exception was taken to, up to the amount of £IOO. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Smith, it was resolved that a cottage hospital be established at Ophir.

The chairman and Mr Pitches were appointed to sign cheques. £lO was voted for petty cash. On the motion of Mr Johnstone, the secretary was voted £5 bonus, in apprecieation ef the careful and capable manner in which he had discharged his duties. V

The following accounts were passed for payment :—"Dunstan Times," £1 10s; Gilkison and Hutton, £3 2s.

The Board then rose.