WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 1

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

THE COMMITTEE'S MONTHLY MEETING

The committee meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium was attended by Messrs J. Matlieson (chairman), E. Macdonald, A. Fraser, Jasper Clark, E. Morgan, J. Horrell, and Dr Maclean representing the Department of Health, Leave of absence was granted to Messrs J. Ritchie and F. AV. Watt.

The Otago and Maniototo Hospital Boards wrote in reply to the committee’s proposals that the period of residence provided in section 92 of the Hospitals. Act, 1926, should not apply to patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, and the letters were received. The secretary was directed to inform the Maniototo Board that the decision of the committee at its January meeting declining liability for patients suffering from complaints other than tuberculosis did not apply to sanatorium patients sent to the Nasehy Hospital for treatment, the maintenance of whom would be a liability of tbo Sanatorium Committee or the hospital board responsible for the patient. In regard to the billiard table for patients, the chairman reported that there had been a liberal response to the appeal for funds to purchase a billiard table for the use of the patients in the institution from the different hospital districts, and the Director-General of Health bad been asked to arrange for subsidy on the amounts collected.— Further action was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary.

The Secretary reported having written to the Director-General of Health for departmental authority for the appointment of an assistant medical officer and the providing in next year’s estimates for the cost of a residence for him, but as no reply bad been received from AVellington this matter was held over until next meeting.

The Medical Superintendent (Dr Kidd) reported that at January 31 there were eighty patients in the institution, and with the exception ol twelve,-whose condition was unchanged, all were doing, well or improving. He submitted the,-weather report for January, and the result of his visit and examination of patients at Timaru and Ashburton. Dr AUilintinc, DirectorGeneral of Health, had visited the institution on February 9 while he (Dr Kidd) was on holiday leave, and intended paying another visit in March. Dr Kidd also reported that there was now sufficient staff accommodation to enable fifty more patients to be treated in the institution. He also reported as to what staff would be required to run the laundry when the plant was installed.—The report was adopted. Matron Wilson submitted a list of furnishings and equipment required for the female shelters now in course of erection, and the procuring of these was loft in the hands of the chairman, secretary, and matron, with power to act. The Secretary reported that the associated boards had patients in the institution at the date, of meeting, as follows: —Smith Can trim ry 23, Southland 22, Ashburton 14, AVaitaki 8, South Otago G, Wallace 3, ANncent 2, Maniototo 2, and two private patients. Of ths number five had been in the sanatorium ior more than eighteen mouths, six over twelve months, uml ■(We>H.v’-ono‘* Tor- less- • than . twelve months. Since last committee meeting four patients had been discharged, three with the disease arrested and the other transferred to hospital for treatment. Ho also submitted a waiting list of seventy-throe patients who bad been examined by Dr Kidd, twentynine of whom belonged to Southland and' twenty-seven to the South Canterbury district. The Secretary reported that over £4OO had .been received lor wool this season.—Noted.

Mr Morgan, on behalf of the Farm Committee, reported regarding the cooling of ini Ik and the necessity of procuring a hot water boiler for the milk room, and this matter was loft in ' the hands of the secretary with power to act. Mr Morgan was authorised to purchase 700 ft of l.tin and lin piping to connect the gardener’s house with the sanatorium water supply. Mr Morgan reported that Mr Tannock, superintendent-of reserves, Dunedin, had visited the institution and recommended the planting of a large number of silver birch, rowan, and pinus insignis trees as part of the committee’s ■ scheme for beautifying the grounds, and Mr Morgan was authorised to purchase these. The Farm Committee was also auhorised to purchase a suitable one-man scoop for levelling the grounds, and to carry out certain repairs to the boundary fences of the farm. In connection with the hydro-electric scheme, the chairman and secretaryreported having interviewed the Dunedin Engineering and Steel Company regarding the payment of the balance on their contract for the supply and delivery of pipe line, and the treasurer was directed to pay the amount owing, an account lor extras being left in the hands of Messrs Morgan and Clark to adjust with the committee’s engineer and the contractors.

At (lie suggosl ion ol the DirectorGeneral of Health Die consideration of the installation ol a freezing plant was held over until next meeting, ns was also (ho matter of electrical cooking.

The Treasurer reported that the committee’s maintenance receipts and payments lor the period ending Kclmr-iry 20 were well within the estimates. He suggested that the committee might indicate its capital expenditure proposals for (ho ensuing year, so (hat the associated hoards might be able to arrange their levies, and the committee decided the following works should he undertaken ;—(1) Shelters for twenty more patients. (2) residence for assistant medical officer: (•'!) cool store and refrigerating plant; f4l furnishings for shelters; (o) increased water supply; (0) piggeries and fowl runs; (7) ponding and levelling and fencing of grounds. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Waipiata on Wednesday, March 28, for the purpose of discussing these proposals and fixing the levy for the ensuing year; the Director-General of Health to he advised.

Accounts and salaries totalling £1.714 (is 7d were passed for payment. Mr Morgan reported that the Love Construction Company was making good progress with its contract for the erection (if female patients’ shelters, and the chairman and secretary were authorised to make progress payments to the contractors when the certificates from the Public Works engineer came to hand.