HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2419, 26 March 1915, Page 6

HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

THE DAIRY FARM MATTER STILL HELD OVER MINISTER'S CONSENT REFUSED. A subject which has been much under consideration by the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board —namely, whether the board has the power to purchase a dairy farm for the supply ol milk to the .Hospital, was further discussed at a special meeting of tho members held yesterday afternoon ia consider tenders for supplies. It was brought up when the miJk tenders were dealt with. The_ chairman (tho Rev. ». A. Evans) said that the milk tenders, for which three had been received, tor a period of three years, were not 011 tho order paper, and he suggested tliey should not. be considered until another meeting nest Monday. They were waiting for a iurther reply from the Minister of Public Health as to whether he would give his consent to the purchase of the dairy farm. Proceeding, Mr.' Evans said that the question regarding the milk supply was ' rather an interesting position. Some lime ago they decided to go into the question of purchasing a dairy-farm, and the special committee set up to deal with the matter had practically completed arrangements to purchase a farm subject to the sanction of the Minister. The matter had been placed before the Minister, but he said he could not sanction it without the approval of all tho contributing local bodies. A further deputation had waited on the Minister a few days ago, and had pointed out that they were not aware that it was necessary to acquaint tho local bodies on matters of policy. Minister promised to let them knoV liis reply to this, but they had not received his answer yet. The committee of the board which waited on the owner of the farm practically closed with him conditionally 011 tho approval of the Minister. The question now was whether it would not be wise to adjourn the quostion till Monday and so have time to receive tho final reply of the Minister. Mr. G. Nash: How are we going to get on in the meantime!' Mr. Evans: "Our Under is not up yet." He moved that consideration should be adjourned. A "Breeze." Mr. Nash: What was the use or calling for tenders for three years and hoodwinking the- tradesmen ? Mr. M'Ewan (heatedly): Has Mr. Nash the right to charge the members with hoodwinking anybody ? Mr. Nash: Yet, I have. Mr. D. Robertson said that they had no right to go into the question of purchasing the farm. They should now accept a tender for the milk. Ho said that tho price for the farm under consideration was ridiculous. The chairman, said that they were not discussing tho farm now. Nothing they said on that question was to the point. Mr. Robertson questioned this ruling, and proceeded to refer to the quality of the farm which the committee had decided 011 purchasing. After soma arguing the chairman said that it was only Mr. Robertson's age that had prevented him taking steps in his power, which "would have made the conduct of the board more rational than it,had been in the past. Mr. Nash: And I suppose it was only my youth I

Mr. D. M'Laren seconded the motion to postpone consideration. He was confident that under Section 60 of the Act they had power to acquire land for use in connection with their institutions. They should wait for the final answer of the Minister before going 011 with the matter. He did not think that they should have to submit questions of policy to tho contributing bodies.

Mr. Nash said that he was thoroughly in accordance with the Minister's decision, and was glad be had withheld his consent. He was perfectly justified in doing so. Mr. Robertson: Hear, hear.

No Power to Purchase. Dr. Kennedy Elliott said he would like to disassociate himself from any reflections on the Minister's view. He wanted the contributing bodies to know what they weio doing, end he did not want to proceed precipitately. At the jaßt meeting he had never seen the Act iii regard to the matter, but since then ho had procured a copy, and he did not think they had power to do other than call for tenders for the milk. ' Section 61 (Clause 3) of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act prevented them considering the expenditure of such a large amount as was proposed for the purchase of the farm. Mr. M'Ewan contended that the Minister had no power to interfere in the matter, and local authorities had 110' power to interfere with the policy 1.-i! 6 ' J p only ground on which a local body had power to approach the Minister was that the proposed estimates were excessive. There was nothing in the Act which would prevent them purchasing a farm. He thought the matter should be held over for discussion till Monday afternoon. Mr. Baldwin quoted a legal opinion showing that there was nothing to prevent the purchase. 1 JV. M'Kenzie said thev had aly ™ an ansiver from tie Minister. The question of buying a farm was outside the whole range of hospital policy. The solicitor that said they had the right to buy a dairy farm probably reasons on the same line as he (the speaker) Had j the right to buy whisky, butter, or anything else, because there was nothing in the Act against it. For himself he was on the horns of a dilemma. Ho wantod to buv & farm for the Hospital, but they had gone so far now as to call for tenders for a milk supply for three years, and three dairy farmers had responded to the call. Now it was proposed to adjourn consideration beoause they had not got an answer to the question they put to the 'Minister asking him to reconsider his determination. The_ Minister had told them he was not going to give his consent, so they could get out of the arrangement made to purchase the dairy farm. _ He opposed the_ adjournment, but said that he was going to propose that all cows belonging to any successful tenderer should he tested at various times.

For tho Children's Sake. Mrs. M'Laren said that milk veil, dors' supplies were not the tilings for sick children. were not doing right if they did not purchase a dairy farm. Mr. Robertson said that if there was to be a postponement it should bo till the new board was elected. It was a question for the ratepayers, Once they liad tho ratepayers' consent they would get the consent of the other people. The motion to postpone c<nsideration till Monday was then put and carried by 13 to i. Supply of Wines and Spirits. When the tender of Messrs. Laery and Co. for the supply of ales, wines, and spirits was under consideration, Mr. M'liwan moved that no tender should be accepted for those supplies. Many hospitals had done without them and seemed to set on very well. Mr. J. Hnldwin seconded the proposal. He thought that if they needed such supplies they oould uet them ill .the open market.

In reply to a question the chairman said that- the annual consumption came to about £200. Mr. Gardener thought that ther» were times when wines and spirits wer# essential. Mr. M'Ewan said that the proposal did not mean that they should be excluded. He simply moved that no tender should be accepted, leaving it open to the superintendent to get what supplies he needed. Mr. Baldwin: In seconding the motion I did so as it only carries out what I have said: that everything should ba bought in the open market. Mr. Castle supported the motion because it was hardly worth calling a tender for it. If it was left to the Medical Superintendent it would be better. The Rev. Mr, Van Staveren said that if they had to go into the open market it would cost them double the amount they would have to pay under a tender. On a division being taken the motion, that the tender should be accepted, was carried. As to boots and shoes, and meal, the chairman said that the tenders this year showed a twenty per cent, increase in each case. Mr. M'Ewan moved that the boots and shoes should be bought in tha open market. The tenders were accepted in oacli case. Tenders Acoopteo. The following tenders were accepted: Meat, Messrs. Barber and Co.; ales, wines, and spirits, Messrs. Laory and Co.; fish, N.Z. Trawling and Supplies Co., Ltd.; boots and shoes, Messrs. Hannah and Co.; spectacles, Mr. H. W. Lloyd; funerals, Messrs. R. H. Wilson and Co. It was decided that no tender-should be accepted for coal till tests had been made.