WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1920, Page 4

WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

MONDAY, APRIL 12th. A special meeting of the Board was held at 8 p.in. to consider the levy for the year. Present: Messrs B. Wild (Chairman), G. Davidson, G. H. Blank, J. J. Breeze, S. P. Evans, T. 11. Chesterman, and E. A. Wells. Apologies were made for the absence of Messrs J. Cameron and L. H. Morel. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. The following report was laid on the table: There is no provision for the Board to issue a Balance Sheet to the public, but since those who pay the piper, if they can’t call the tune are at least entitled to see the dance, we propose on this occasion, in revising our year’s finances, to run over as shortly as possible the several items : First of all, to swallow the pill at one gulp, ive have spent £3270 more •than expected. We are £1507 short, and to pay up this deficiency and carry on, we will require to levy £4BOI and that will increase the rate by half. Westland Hospital.—Staff excluding tile doctor, 19; average number of patients, 32J-; cost £(5221 (£1221 over the estimate); salaries £1972, (£379 up); supplies £1824, (£430 up); prov'sions £1835 (313 up) ; and surgery £590 (£22 up). Voluntary contributions were £22.. £lB under the estimate and patients’ payments £1476, £44 over the estimate; the net cost for the year being £4625 to be found by the Government and ratepayers. The rise in salaries was forced on the Board, and lie would be a daring person who would suggest that any of the staff arc overpaid. The Matron’s salary, £2OO, after I daro not say how many years’ service, compares very unfavourably with that . •‘KD.C'.Yotiiig lady who has just started ! teaching in the State School, Secondary Department, at £l6O with the chance of rising to £SOO. Supplies include some considerable repairs to the nurses’ quarters, and next year an equal sum will be spent in installing electric light, so that- no saving may be Expected here.

Some indication of what ive are up against may be seen in the last lot of lint we bought, which cost £29 17s 4d instead of £4 4s as formerly. We do not see any possible saving in the expenditure, hut we must give more attention to the receipts. Voluntary contributions, £22, seems altogether paltry, but it must be remembered that many hundreds of pounds have been contributed during the year towards the new hospital building, which the Board are resolved shall go up without any charge on the rates.

Wc started the year with £14,245, owing by patients to which is added say £3,600 charges on the inmates during the year. Of this £9,352 was written off, and it must be admitted that £1476 is an unreasonably small sum to get in, and as our Secretary is abnormally soft-hearted the Finance Committee must be resolute enough to make those who can and won’t pay. The Board is very liberal in writing off the accounts of any who show that they are in indigent circumstances, but others must lie made to realise that been use the Institution is their own, they arc not entitled to free treatment, or to pay only such amount as they find convenient, hut that a debt owing to the Board is one that must be paid, even if lie has to go without his morning refresher, or she without her even-

ing picture's for :i time. Another mutter to In* considered is whether the elm rye nt the hospital should not he increased to £3 3s a. week —people who have not had experience in private? hospitals away have no idea of the cheapness and value of the services out Institution gives them. A case in point is the nominal charge at a private hospital in Christchurch was £4 ‘ls a week, but the actual cost of three weeks’ stay was £46, the amount being run up with medical attendance, medical supplies, dressings etc., all of which are included in our present charge of £2 2s a week. This Institution will require £4,656 next year. Otirn Hospital.—With a staff of 2 and average of one patient, cost £635, (£35 over the estimate). Salaries were £244 (£8 up); supplies £l3B (£72 up); provisions £l3B (£3O up); and surgery £lls (£52 up). The voluntary contributions were £217—£17 more, and paying patients £l3l, £29 less than estimated, the net cost being £287. A resident doctor has now been ap pointed there, so that the salaries for this year will he £7OO to which the Public Works Department contributes £3OO. We count on the voluntary contributions being increased to at least £3OO, and do not expect to have to provide more than £4O next year. Ivumara Old People’s Home.—Staff 8, inmates 41, cost £2418 (£4lB more than estimated; salaries £576 are £l4B up; supplies £560 (£143 up) ; provisions £ll4B (£IBO up) and surgery £l3B (£B2 up). Payments from inmates were £1032 and the net cost £l-101. Next year £I3OO is required. Doss Hospital.—Staff one, patients nil; salaries £56; supplies £lB. A caretaker only is employed here. Benevolent grants were £659—£122 more than last year. Expected to be £IOO this year. Industrial Schools.—£B4 were £56 less than last year. Expected to be £I.OO this year. Public Health.—Expended £122, but was refunded by Government for previous year £146, providing £IOO for this.

South Westland Nursing—Cost £l2O, £ll7 less. Receipts were £25, £l7 more than previous year, providing £BOO for this year. There was no nurse there for half the year. A nurse’s home has to he provided here, but wo are hoping that our Southern friends will provide the bulk of the cost. Consumptive Shelters at Cashmere Hills.—Cost £285 (£2l up); receipts £llß (£l2 more than last year); not cost £142, providing £BO this year. Hoard.—Cost £583 (£127 up). This is comprised of salaries £274, fuel and light, telegrams and stamps, office supplies £lB9, member’s travelling expenses nil, hank into if it £7O; £550 is’ required for this year. Epidemic Charges.—£lll, will wo hope he non-recurring. Rents and fees received £133 will he greatly increased this year if our litigation with the Westland Sawmilling Coy. to recover royalty on timber taken from our reservo is successful.

To sum up, provision was made last year for us to spend £9330, but we got through £12,600 and are now £1597 in debt. We require for this year £14026 to pay this debt, and carry on, and of this Government will provide £4305. Rates will give £4BOI, and £4220 will come from gifts and those who use the Institution.

In closing we must comment that although between home maintenance and benevolent grants £2;GSO was expended in Kumara, not a shilling of voluntary contributions was received from there. The weight of the rate does not press too heavily on them because their levy for the year was only £9O obtained only after giving the lawyers a cut out of it.

Wo are sure that it is only want of thought on the part of the many young fellows there, without responsibilities, who are making or should be making as much in a week, as many a curate keeps a family for a month on, that no donations have been made. We hope that the new era of prosperity that is settling in at Kumara will be sealed by them, returning something of the glorious name the old time Kumara had fur liberality to the sick and needy.— Received.

THE ESTIMATES. Estimates on which 1920-1921 h vy on the contributing local bodies is to be struck on April 12th., 1920: Westland Hospital: Estimated Exoen diture £6500 (last year £6082); Voluntary Contributions £2O; Government Subsidy £24; O.A.P. and Paying Patients £1800; Required from the .Boara £4656.

Otira Hospital: Estimated Expenditure £IOSO (last year £834); Voluntary Contributions £300; Govern me it Pub sidy £360; O.A.P. and Paying Patients £SO; P.W.D. Subsidy to Otira Hospital £300; Required from tin Board £4O. Kumara O.P. Home: Estimated Expenditure £2BOO (last year £2418); O.A.P. and Paying Patients £1500; Required from Board £I3OO. Ross Hospital: Estimated Expenditure £IOO (last year £74); Required from Board £IOO. Benevolent Grants: Estimated Expenditure £6OO (last year £659); Required from Board £6OO. Cashmere Hills Sanatorium : Estimated Expenditure £2BO (last year £285); Paying Patients £200; Required from Board £BO. S.W. Nursing: Estimated Expenditure £350 (last year £120); O.A.P. and Paying Patients £SO; Required from Board £3OO.

Industrial Schools: Estimated Expenditure £IOO (last year £83); Required from Board £IOO.

Public Health: Estimated Expenditure £IOO (last year £120); Required from Board £IOO. Board and Sundries : Estimated! Expenditure £550 (last year £533) ; Required from Board £550. Deficit 1920: £1596; Required from Board £1596.

Totals: Estimated Expenditure £14026; Voluntary Contributions £390; Government Subsidy £384; O.A.P. and Paying Patients £3600; P.W.D. Subsidy to Otira Hospital £300; Required from Board £9422.

Levy on contributing Bodies £ ISOI. Government Subsidy at 19/3 ; n the pound, £4621; Total £9422. The increase to be paid by the contributing Local Bodies on the estimates for 1920-1921 will be 50%. A short discussion followed during which the Chairman stated he had gone carefully into the figures and he could not see how they could he altered. In connection with the suggestion in the report for the charge for patients, members were in favor of increasing the charge to £3 3s, with th.> execution of Messrs Breeze and Evans, but consideration was deferred until the Conference of Charitable Aid Boards is held in Wellington next month. The Board after a general discussion resolved on the motion of Messrs Bieoz<> and Blank to approve of the Estimates which are to bo sent on to the contributing bodies, for consideration, and will come up before the Board for final decision on Wednesday fortnight. The Chairman moved that the contributing bodies be notified that the Board would welcome representative subcommittees if they so desire to confer with the Board at its next meeting when confirming the levy. Seconded by Mr Davidosn and carried. After dealing with some routine business tlie Board adjourned at 9.15 n.m.