MID-CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20234, 12 May 1931, Page 5

MID-CANTERBURY.

ASHBURTON. REDUCTION IN SALARIES. On the recommendation of the Direc-tor-General or Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) the Ashburton Hospital Board decided to make a uniform cut of 10 per cent, on all salaries and wages, at the meeting yesterday. The Hospital Committee also recommended the same procedure and also that a special committee be set up to consider any cases of hardship. x ' The chairman (Mr A. Horsey) said that the Director-General of Health had intimated that he intended to make a general reduction of 10 per cent, in all hospitals, therefore they would nil be on tho same footing. The chairman and Mr Gallagher were deputed fo assess the valuation of the Board's house properties occupied by its employees and the value of "living in" for members of the staff, so that allowance could be made in connexion with the reduction of salaries. Maternity Homes. There was considerable discussion on the question of closing the Methven and Bakaia Maternity Homes at the Ashbudton Hospital Board meeting yesterday, arising out of a recommendation from the Hospital Committee that the matter be given serious consideration with a view to further economy. Special reports from the medical superintendent, matron, engineer, and gardener as to the economies which could bo made in their respective departments, were taken in committee. Mr W. G. Gallagher (chairman of the Hospital Committee) said lhat in view of the necessity to reduce expenditure, they would have to consider seriously closing the homes. During last year the loss on Malvern Home was £B2B, the loss oq Methven Home was £649, and the loss on Bakaia Home was £503. Those were big losses to the general ratepayers, although no member wanted to do a serious injustice to the districts concerned. In view of the fact that motor transport had increased in efficiency during tho past.few years, there did not. seem the same necessity for the homes in the country districts. "When the ratepayers are so hard pressed, we cannot afford these losses, which are too great," he concluded. Mr G. S. Hardy (Rakaia) asked why they should penalise tho mothers of tho Ashburton County in particular when nobody would be penalised by the economies in the Public Hospital. The proposal did not seem to be fair. The Bakaia and Methven Homes were necessary fop the country people, who, after al), paid the rates. Tho county contributed £7293 to the hospital, the borough £449, and the Tinwald Town Board £BB. The country ratepayers were losing more money in proportion to the borough. There was not sufficient provision at the Malvern Home to accommodate the country patients. Mr W. T. Lill: We can build on here. Mr Hardy:. That is just what wt» can't do. You will find that the Rakaia Home will be nearly full at the end of this month. This cannot be regulated. Both country homes are well equipped, and it will cost nearly £SOOO to bring Malvern up to date. The matter jjhould be> considered more fully' bofore deciding to take a>way these privileges. Mr W; Bryant: The Government has asked us to economise. I don't think that these nursing homes are required. The Health Department and the medical profession forced these homes on to the Board. Sometimes there is one patient In Bakaia and sometimes there are Done. I call the homes white elephants. With"the use of modern transport, wo, should centralise these institutions. We should close one of those places— Mr'fiardy'a Home. Mr Lill stated that most mothers liked to be as near their crtvn home as possible, and that was worth more than '& 8. d. Private homes charged £4 or, £5 per week, while the Board's homes charged £3 3s. The -Board was helping those who were doing their best to keep families in hard times, and the ' closing of the homes would be too drastic a measure at the present time. Hesugge'sted that tho Board meet representatives fropi the Rakaia and Methven districts on the question. v Mr P. Prampton: I am satisfied that the ratepayers would not objoct to the loss on these institutions. Could we •not cut down our staff? Mr Gallagher: Or lease them. Mr Frampton said that the Board should give at least 12 months' notice, before closing the homes. Dr. J. B. Wells said that if the hoincß were Closed there, wopd 'be no need to bring tie patients to Ashburton. He asked where did the patients go before the homes were established. The statistics from Rakaia indicated that a num ber of maternity cases must be attended, in their own homes., If the pe'ople in the respective districts wished that the institutions be kept open, they should utilise them. If the Board could not afford to keep them going, they should be offered to the-district at a nominal rental.*

Mr C. A. Campidn said the step was a dirastic one to consider, as the bulk of the patients using the homes had no motor-cars, and could not afford to visit Ashburton. The Methven district contributed one-fifth of the rates for the hospitals, and deserved some consideration. The chairman said that there whs no intention of closing the homes now that the accounts balanced, but something would have to be done next year. ' The discussion mietfit do some goo.d and bring the people of Rakaia and Methven to realise that more use would have to be made of their homes Mr Hnrdv asked whv could not the homes be recognised' as cottage hospital* the sapie as ~in North CanterMr Lill said the Department of Health would not recognise them as such. ' Frost. Frosts of 12.5 and 11 degrees respectively were recorded on Sunday and yesterday mornings. Hospital- Board. At tlie monthly meeting of the Hospital Board, held yesterday there were present: —Messrs A. Horsey (chairman), W. G. Gallagher, VY. Bryant, F. Frampton, G. S. Hardy, W. T., Lill, C. A. Campion, and L»r. J. R. Wells. The chairman welcomed back to the Board table Dr. Wells, who had re-elected to represent the Ashburton Borough on the Board. The report or Dr. H.' S. Billclilt, medicaj superintendent, stated that the number of patients in the institution on April Ist was 70, and during the month 67 were admitted, I«J7 treated, and 70 discharged, leaving males, and 30 females m hospital at the end of the month. During lasj month there were 275 outpatient ■ treatments, 45 X-ray examinations, 247 massage treatments, and 60 operations. " The report of Miss K. J. ,^ a^' Matron, stated that Nurses SmaUbone, Vinsen. and- Digby were on annual leive. Nurse Dixon had left the. hospital, being replaced by Miss Mee. The report from the various maternity homes stated that during

to Malvern, and 20 discharged, leaving three ; at Methven nine patients were admitted, and five discharged, lea.v----'"B nje; at Rakaia one patient was mu i ? ne leaving one. Ihe chairman ' reported that the Direptor-General of Hestlth (Dr. Watt) had advised that contributions from local rates and the consolidated fund for New Zealand had been reduced from £1,220,000 to £1,040,000 this year. The reduction would bo . made proportionately throughout the Dominion. and would mean a reduction of £438 to the Ashburton Board. The Department of Health had suggested various economies in the estimates, and also that the estimated amount of fees be increased. He had protested to Dr. Watt against malting a high fees estimate, and had pointed out that the Board had met the position, without inflation of fees. A comprehensive statement, together with analysis of the income and expenditure for the year just closed, was submitted by Mr A. Prentice (secretarytreasurer), who stated that the total maintenance cost was ft 13,625 15s 7d for the Ashburton Hospital, £ls£o 6s 2d for Malvern Home, £864 0? 6d for Mothven Home, and £664 15s 4d for Rakaia Home. The cost of maintenance at the Public Hospital was £214.3 per occupied bed, or an average daily cost of lis Bfd per patient. The cost per bed was £201.1 in 1929-30, and £211.4 in 1928-29. The Dominion average per occupied bed per day in 1929-30 was £205. The account for provisions, which cost £2294, was evidence of careful household management and satisfactory buying. The average daily number subsisted, including staff, was 103.8, which gave a daily average cost for food per person of Is 2id, or £22.2 per annum. Domestic costs totalled £2963, and was £9 2s per occupied bed higher than the Dominion average. Salaries amounted to £5937 17s 6d, which was £6 2s higher thap the Dominion average. The same staff gave the required service, whether there were 81 occupied beds, as during one portion of-this year, or 41 occupied beds. The cost per occupied bed last year was lis Bfd per day, against the Dominion average of lis 2|d. The number of patients treated in 1931 was 1058, and the occupied beds 61.8, compared with 1163 and (59.3 respectively in 1930 and 943 and 63.4 in 1929. The average individual- stay of patients was 22.4 days, the Dominion average being 22.6. The average- cost per patient treated was £l2 10s 2Jd, against a Dominion average of £l2 last year. The. eost of th£ maternity hospitals, together with last year's costs- in parentheses, is as follows: —Malvern: Total cost £1520 (£1350), beds occupied 5.9 (4.9), cost per occupied bed £257.6 (£275.4). Mothven: Total cost _ £864 (£891), beds occupied 1.8 (2.2), cost per occupied bed £4BO (£405). Rakaia: Total cost £605 (£070), beds occupied 1.3 (1.1), cost per occupied bed £511.5 (£009.1). The averago cost of each patient for 1930-31, with tho average fees paid, is as follows:—Malvern £B.B (£4), Methven £17.7 (,£4.4), Rakaia £20.2 (£4.9). Tho net cost to the Hospital Board, that is, the difference between tho running c.osts and receipts from tho homes, is as follows: —Malvern £B2B 7s lOd (1929-30 £653 17s 8d), MetHven £649 7s 6d (£602 14b 4d), Rakaia £503 9s 4d (£5lO Is Id). Charitable aid had cost £963 (£697), and the number of eases granted relief were 602 last year, 237 in 1929-30, and 104 in 1923-29. Unemployment had accounted for 499 of the cases and infirmity 37. The cost of chnritable aid was equal to £52 (i per 1000 of the population, compared with £37 14s Inst year; however, it was much loss than the Dominion average, which, was £94.6. A total of 4d had been writ.en oft in fees which were considered unrecoverable.

Administration cost was £1139 16s 9d, made up chiefly aB follows:—Board's travelling expenses £ll3 9s 4d, chairman's honorarium £52, salaries £790 15s Sd, office printing and stationery £56 Gs sd. Payments made to other Boards were:—Waipiata Sanatorium £1748, Christchnrch Hospital £454, Hanmor Hospitpl £l6O. The gross of all fees income for the year, whethei paid or not, was £18,970 18s 2d, comprising chiefly with 1928-29 figures:— Ashburton Hospital in-paicnts £11,174 4s 6d (£11,439 18s Gd), Malvern Home £978 lis 6d (£801), Methven Homo £3OO lis (J£365 6s 6d), Rakaia Home £209 17s (£179 15s 6d), out-patients (Public Hospital) £782 4s lid (£644 19s lOd), .other Boards' fees £2362 8n 9d (£2609 12a 9d). The average fees charged was therefore 9s 10fd per day,, and the average maintenance cost was lis BJd per day. The assets of "the Board, after writing off entries and revaluing .equipment, totalled £79,299 19s Bd. and the Board's interest fn Waiplata Sanatorium was valued at £15,121 3s 4d. The Government statistics for last year showed that the cost per head of the population of the Dominion for hospitals and, charitable relief was 21s Bd. Basing the population of the Ashburton Hospital District at, 18,510, the cost per person for the year just ,closed was 18s 4d. Discussing the secretary-treasurer's annual financial review, Dr. Wells said that the report did not give the information required in the cost of hispital treatment. Instead of being lis B£d per occupied bed per day it was more like 23s 4d, ' Mi* Prentice said that Dr. Wells did not-take, into account the payment of something over £2OOO per year to Waipiata Sanatorium, Christchurch, and Hanmer Hospitals for patients, and also maintenance of the , maternity homes administration and charitable relief.

Mr Hardy stated that it was expected that the Ashburton Hospital's costs would be slightly higher than the Dominion average. Being so close, however, was an indication of efficient management. The Ashburton figures were considered very Reasonable in comparison to larger hospitals. The ratepayers of the Ashburton County had reason to be satisfied with' the manner in which the staff was conducting the institution. It was difficult for anyone who was not an- accountant, to grasp the figures. The report was adopted. The , Hospital Boards ' Association wrote asking for support of the request to the Prime Minister that all outdoor relief occasioned by unemployment shall no longer be a charge on hospital funds, as provision had already been made for the unemployed by the Government's institution of an unemployment fund. The chairman said the question was a grave one, as the Hospital Board could not refuse sustenance where women and children were concerned. Mr Bryant said if they adopted the proposal it would be a hardship on a certain section, -especially those who were in need and had to wait a fortnight to get on the unemployed relief work. Dr. Wells agreed with this view. 1 ho chairman said they would have t° treat, every case on its merits. Mr Lill: Where are we going to find the money? It costs us £2O to £3O to supply these people. The chairman: We will have to find lt % Mr Gallagher said that it cost £963 for charitable relief last year, and there was provision on the estimates-for £750 for this purpose this year. The Unemployment Board's work would relieve the position this yoar. , W£ w decided to sow a section of vide relief 8 ro^ei Potatoes, to pro-

Bugby Union. At the woekly itifcuuii.j 01 ilie Management to:auuueo ot Uie Union, held last evening, Alt W. A. barney preaided. A resolution of eympatay was ba&sed with Mr A..H. Uuiney in tiie death of his iathw. Ihe -\ew Zealand Ktfgby Union advised that the playing under any rales other than. tboEo in tha tiugby football Union's handwill bo discontinued and that any variations to itule? should bo sanctioned by the English Union baiora coming into force; The wew Zealand Rugby Union wr6te stating that its committee had given ihe ruling ihit the nlajer pUcmg, the ball in he serum might indicate when the ball was going; into the scrum. It requested that *ll Unions deal hUtmgly with breaches oI rules by wing-for-wards, as it was felt that they, by breaking the ru.es of the game, wera having a detrimental tilcct on football. It also notified that there u'ouid be two selectors lor the Kew Zealand team and for the North and South Island t*aras this year, and asked the Union to' submit the name of a candidate' for the pouition. The nomination of selector was held over. The Hinds Football Club wrote stating, that it was impossible to guarantee fielding a senior team every Saturday, and that it would appreciate it if the Union would regrade their present senior team 'to juniors. It was pointed out that most of the players were between the ages of- 16 and 10 years. Eighteen names were submitted to be regraded. . ■'' ■ ■ i It was decided to notify the Hinds Club tbat the Union would regrade their senior players to juniors with th« exception of F, and A. Hood and R. -Burnett. The draw, with the referees, for Saturday is as follows Senior Grade—-Methven v. Old'.Soys, at Methven (Mr G. W. Brown); Hampstead v. Kakaia,. at Showgrounds (Mr C. Wellman); Allonton v. Mayßeld, at Mayfietd (Mr W. H. Featherston). Old Boys, at Tinwald (Mr E. Brophy); AJlenton v. Technic&l Old Bwys, at x Showgrounds (Mr L. Hadley); Methven, a bye. It- was decided that G. Day be permitted to play for the Hampstead Club until ha leaves Ashburton. It was agreed to notify the Bakaia Club, that all matches would be played in two spells of not less than 40 minutes, and that i'i JI 1 " 1 was playing under the old rtiles until the new rules came to hand. Presentation. j S. H. Sullivan, who has been president of the Ashburton Rugby Union for over * y®"' given a farewell last evening, prior to his departure for Timara. In preMr Sullivan with a travelling rug, Mr W. H. Sarney said they regretted his departure from Ashburton. Thay were grateful for the amount of work he had put into the administration' of the Union's affairs. .»ther members of the Management Commit- .? V nion spoke, and also Mr E., McDougau, vioe-praaident of the Referees' Association. Mr Sullivan suitably replied. RAKAIA. A meeting of those interested %in the formation, of a Boy Scout troop la Rakaia was held in the library on Saturday'evening. There was a good attendance and Mr M. P. Cooke was elected chairman. Mr Cooke read a list of the duties of the committee. It was decided to form a committee and the following were elected:—Mr M. P. Cooke (chairman), the Rev, A. H. Barnett, Messrs W. A. Mills, G. Haslett, W. J. Lee, W. Cromie, C. Nelson, S. Wilson, C. Evison, Mesdames Kirk and Cornelius; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. Nelson; auditor, Mr A. S. Henderson; scoutmaster, Mr L. Hopwood; assistant scoutmaster, Mr D. Scott. The following lecturers were appointed:—Messrs E. Henderson, M. P. Oooko, W. J. Lee, W. Cromie," G. Haslett, Dr. Bagley, Mesdames Cornelius and Kirk, ft was decided to ask parents for small contributions toward forming a fund. The offer of Mr M. P. Cooke of 100 ft o£ ropt» was accepted with thanks. An enjoyable social was held on Saturday evening by St. Mark's Ladies' Guild. There was a gcod attendance. Competitions were wan by Miss 0. Smith and Mr P. Smith. Music was supplied by Mr T. Lawler, with extras by Miss F. Cornelius and Messrs J. Lawler and A. Pluck. Jir B. Breach was M.GL

HINDS. At a meeting of the Ball Corporation, the chairman (Mr O. A- S. Watson) presided. He extended a- welcome to two new members, Messrs Hall '?nd i Rock. i The chairman and Mr Rock were instructed v to enquire into the cost of putting down a new floor. The fixing of piping and carting of shingle were left to Mr Morris to attend to. Mr G. Bagrie was elected to a vacancy on the committee. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Cuke's Church was held in the vicarage room; <The vicar (the Rev. E. Uanna) in his report stated that the' year had been one of pro- i gross. The various organisation* were m a healthy condition The Sunday schools were deserving of special mention. The vicar acknowledged the loyal help and co-operation;of the.wardens, vestry, the organists, and secretaries; and all who had hefped'toward the work of the church. The financial statement showed that the year had begun with a debit of £ll and had closed with a debit balance of £33. In Tiew of the fact that over £4OO had been raised in a difficult time, the result of the year's working was considered encouraging. The vicar appointed Mr D. S. Studholme his warden. Tim election of officers resulted: Synodsman, Mr C. Jaine; People's warden, Mr E. W. M. Watson; vestry, Messrs J. C. Guinness, W. P. Hockley, 0. ,H. Jaine, W. Lowe, T. Mulligan, A. - J. Rawstorn, H, Simmonds; and auditor, Mr W. Middlemaes. The senior hockey team travelled to Tinwald on Saturday, Tinwald win? ding by 4 goals to 3. The Hinds junior team met EUgb Sehoo] B on. the local runds, High School scoring a win 6 goals to 2. 'The basketball team played two matches in Ashburton. . Convent Old Girls 17 beat , Hinds 1, and St. Stephens 11 beat Hinds 5. ' Hard frosts have been experienced in the district. Large quantities of grain are still being carted to the railway. MT. SOMERS. Those present at the annual meeting of the Mt. Somers" Domain Board, held in the library, on.'Thursday l evening, were Messrs E. C. Wbod (chairman), H. 0. Hood, J. McChmont, and W. J. Comyns. The chairman in his report of the year's work stated that, despite a falling-off in receipts, chiefly attributable to decreased nail rentals, various improvements had been added to the buildings and properties administered by the Board. A kitchenette had been added to the library, and electric flood-lights had been installed for the use of the Mt. Somers Football Club. The water channel through one paddock had been changed and the channel filled in, with a view to making a sports ground. As many trees had been uprooted by gales in the plantation along the racecourse reserve, a contract had been let for tile cutting up of the firewood and felling, of trees, but the work was still uncompleted. Owing to the abolition of the Mt. Somers Road Board, and., at the request of the Ashburton County Council, the Board had taken over control of the Mt. Somers Cemetery., Owing to having left, the district, Mr G. L. Nell had resigned after about eight years' servioe on the Board, and Mr A. N. Grigg had been appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr Wood r who was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his past efforts as chairman. METHVEN. The first meeting of th& newly elected committee of the Methven Plunket Society was presided over by Mrs H. Reid. There were also present Meedames G. Kelly, W* & Owen, JS.

A, Bland, W. J. Oookeley, R. Cauut©*"* G. Johns, and D. Chambers (bom secretary). Apologies.for absence werg received from' Mesd&mes J. R. r Dalton, J. Watson, A. McDpnlald, and 6. &• deeve. The president 6rie£y welcomed the new member? of the ' oamjmtte»e» and expressed the hope that the.. Society would hav?. a. year <rf progress. Mrs A. L. Kangin. was' added to the committee.. The nurse's report for the previous month, -was read. It;.wfts decided to hold the annual Appeal ua & On Thursdayj June 11th, in -the Town H$ll : A concert will be held -in the evening, to be followed bj, a sale of surplus gifts and produce'.' Under ideal conditions tlfe Ifetbvea Gua Club be}d its o facial opening shoot for the 1081 season. There was a good of. members, and fair nuinber -ot visitor* iron wwr^prtsfc. dents of the TfottinjcOltib. Methvea Golf Olab, end Methven A. and'.P. Association. 1 In,declaring the season -open, the president, J£r IJ. J. ifreaman, reared to-the ipsa tainad to ths.ciub by the death set Mr O. T.. Jessep, • founder and- past president. As fc .\ mark of respect all present stood' in silence ' <«C» tw moments. . The afternoon's prOgr»?Jun».«onsisted «f . (our shoots. An in teres tin* event was » , match pat on for the - visitors present.. The' «lnb members, in spite of a severe handicap, • were easily the victors* Themaln contest of the programme was for a handsome silver cap presented by the presldent,Mr H. J. Free- , man. The conditions are that the cap is to v be won three times In snccession, or fonr times at intervals. Shootias at 14 clay birds from handicap maris, soma good shooting te*. suited, the "winner being 8. H. Anderson, with 13 on. The rtumers-ap'were 6. A. Franks »nd W. J. Cooksleyi A. Bray annexed the Tisdsll Cup from the holder, A. A. Melieod. Thls.enp is to be wdn twice, not necessarily la succession, and JVanks, Hclieod/and Bray «»ch ■ have one win.. - The, best scores recorded .in each match

SPRINGBURN. Miss I. Alexander, who has been spending a fortnight in the district, returns to" Christchurch to-day. The early winter -is being marked by some hard froets, that on Friday night tegistering 19 degrees. . Playing football* against 013 Boys on Saturday, Charles Mcßae, o local player, collided with fan opponent and suffered a broken nose He was taken to Ashburton for medic&l treatment. Coinciding with the end of the tenn. a further school: social was held in the schoolroom. This time parents entertalned the teachers and the'• Cominittee. Mr A. Robertson was chairmar and the programme was in- the eapabK hands of Mr T. B. .Adams. iCompeti tionsand games were interspersed wit), items contributed by the following:— Mr and Sirs O Norman, Misses Symc Miss A. Smith, Mr <3.- McFarlane. Mis* N. Norman, Mrs Reside and. Miss J3. Gundry, and the Re*,' B.' 3, Webb conducted' community singing. Arter supper, Mr A. Bentley for the committee, and Mr K. I. Robertson for the teachers returned thanks for the entertainment*

were aft fallows > SIX BIRD OLAY SWEEPSTAKE. ' A. -A. HcLeod .. 111111 0 ■A. Bray .. 112111 6 9. A. Franks .. .112111 6 W. J. Cooksley .. 111131 6 S. Hi Anderson 111011 5 J. W. DrummOnd .. 121101 6 The stake was divided by :the competitors with possibles. PRESIDENT'S CUP HATCH, 14 Clay* Birds, with added sweepstake.' ■■■ .8. H. Anderson . 111121131120111* A. Bray . 11111110101101 11 O. A. Franks .. 11112121100111 12 W. J. Cooksley . 11020111111111 12 * ' 11112111011100 11 A. HcLeod E. F. Ward. ' . 1201011li0tld0 9 In addition to winning the cap, 'Anderson took first money, Cooksley and Franks jliviAing second and third money. r TISDALL OTP MATCH-, 14 Clay feds, with added swee-pStaks. r --v. A. Bray . 1U11UUU921, 14 G. A. Franks ■ . 1J112121111211 14 S. F. Ward . 11111111120112 13 A. A. MoZieod . 11111000X11121 11 S. H. Anderson . 12111011101210 11 W. J. Cooksley . 10011301111121 11. In the shoot-off between, JBray and Franks, the former won the -enp '<m "the fourth round. and the first and second - stake ' money was / divided. Ward, with IS on. took third money.