WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1920, Page 4

WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

'THURSDAY, JULY loth. DEPUTATION E-ROM ROSS,

A. special meeting of the Hoard was held at 2.15 p.m. to meet a deputation from Ross. There were present: Messrs R. Wild, (Chairman), J. J. Breeze, H .Blank, T .W .Duff and S. P. Evans. The deputation from Ross consisted ofr Hon J .Grimrnond, Messrs S. P. Evans (Mayor), T. Moyo, (Timber Workers), C. Upjohn, (Returned Soldiers, C. Black, (Councillors), Phillips, (School C'oinittee), J. C. Martin, (Wai-

taha), and W. G. Logue. The Chairman briefly welcomed the deputation and invited them to place their views before the Board. Mr S. P. Evans, of Ross, said the deputation had been requested to come to Hokitika by a public meeting held at Ross the previous evening, when at a meeting of representatives of the Borough Council, Returned Soldiers, Eire Brigade ,Timber Workers, School Committee and public held in the Coronation Hall, it was resolved That as a Government officer lias recently inspected, and it is understod, favourably.' reported on the suitability of the Ross Hospital for a Maternity Hospital, we urge that such an institution be at once established with a medical man in charge, and that a deputation wait upon and urge the Westland Hospital, and Charitable Aid Board and the Government to provide a Doctor as soon as possible, as there are over 200 miles of sparsely settled country without a modi, cal man South of Hokitika, and the want of a doctor is keenly felt and closer settlement retarded. That all the members of this meeting that can go. proceed to Hokitika to-morrrow and interview the Charitable Aid Board. Mr Evans continuing said the meeting had been called owing to there being a lot of sickness in the district, and owing to a doctor not being always available. The residents had come to the conclusion that the time had come for a doctor to he secured for the town, and they were prepared to assist financially to this end. They had also asked leading members of the Hnri Hari Medical Association to get in touch with the movement, and were hopeful of support' from there. The speaker had not the slightest, doubt that a medical officer was required and tlio residents in view of much sickness now prevalent in the district desired to urge the Board for their most favourable assistance in the matter.

Hon J. Grimmond said tliat unfortunately - they had been brought there by circumstances which they all regretted. He understood that there was an officer of the Government sent down to enquire as to the suitability of the Totara Hospital building for a maternity home. The people of Ross district thought that if it were intended to send a nurse and staff, it would be 1 better to ask the Board to induce the Government to place a doctor in charge. The Government had expressed its desire to help the backblocks settler, and there was no more bßek-b.lock district than that of South Westland in New Zealand. He asked if the Board had the knowledge of what the Government were going to do, that they should urge a doctor being placed in charge, in preference to a nurse, or in the event of the establishment of a nursery that a doctor be placed in charge. Mr Charles Upjohn, (Returned Soldiers), said as delegate fior the Returned Soldiers’ Association he joined in asking the assistance of the Board. In view of the seriousness of the influenza epidemic at present, the want of a doc_ tor was made all the more proving. The country around Ross • was getting; opened up and new settlers were coming in, making it a necessity to have a medical officer stationed in the district. The meeting yesterday resolved to send the deputation to place their views before the Board. If a maternity home were established then there should be a medical man in charge otherwise those requiring attention would come to Hokitika for treatment, where a medical officer’s services could be obtained. At the present time owing to the large district that the one doctor was called on to minister for, time after time when his services are called for he is unable to visit, and is only able to send medicine down. A doctor was a great need for the district, which would help financially if one were provided. Mr T. Moye representing the Workers’ Union said some time ago the workers held a meeting and resolved to send a request to the IS.oard and Health department to station a medical officer in Ross. There were now an increasing number of timber workers in tile district, and they considered it a necessity that in case of sickness or accident, a medical men should he available at dose call. The workers were prepared to help financially. He hoped the Board, members would view the matter in the broadest light, as it affected the public generallv in a most vital manner. The assistance of the Board would prove of great value to th# dis trict

Mr C. Black, said lie supported and heartily endorsed the views of the other speakers. Mr Philip? representing the. School Committee supported other members. A medical officer stationed in Ross would mean a (/resit advantage in. time, to life

and in cost to those needing his services. Personally he would assist to his utmost to secure such a desired result. The appointment of a doctor would prove a great advantage to the whole of South Westland bringing assistance considerably closer in ease of necessity. Mr It. Wild in acknowledging the views of the deputation expressed the warmest appreciation of the public spirit that had ied them to come to tho Board. The position in connection with tho maternity home proposal was that the whole of that movement was initiated by the Board. They had written to Ross asking for support of tho movement, but he regretted the lack of support it had received from the Ross people. The Board had agreed two meetings ago that if it were possible to do so, to opon a maternity home in Ross. Tho point as it appeared to the Board was that the Boss Hospital was closed owing to there being no warrant for the expenditure at that time. Since tho dosing there had been some altera, tion made including the opening of the lime kiln works and some new sawmills in tho district. If the present buildings were made into a maternity homo it would ensure a thoroughly trained nurse as a midwife. The Board recognised that a maternity home and nurse‘could he opened at a. cost of £250 a year, while at Otira Hospital with a doctor, and an average of one patient, it cost £IOSO a year.* He considered the sounder policy would bo lor tho Board to continue on the proposal for a competent nurse and maternity home. As to a doctor ,of course they all recognised the need for more medical service in the district. If the Ross people would form a Medical Association and guaranteed to find £2OO a year, he felt tho Board would be justified in offering £4OO a year for a medical officer to reside in Ross, with tho right of private practice. Air Blank sympathised with the wishes of the deputation, but he did not see how the Board could he saddled with more expense. If they formed a medical, association surely they conid finance the matter. He considered it a disgrace to the district to have only one medical officer to serve so large an area. He was going to move at next meeting to invite applications for another medi. cal officer for Hokitika. He was not in favour of the Board paying much for the maintenance of a doctor to be stationed in Ross. He had heard that the doctors did not seem to like coming hero. The time was opportune to alter the present condition of affairs. They should not allow one man to monopolise the whole of Westland district. It was outrageous, and the sooner it was ended tho better. Mr J. J. Breez* said he was in sympathy with the deputation, hut he could not endorse Mr Blank’s remarks which lie considered uncalled for. They had had other doctors fro come to the town, but under no consideration would they stop here. As far as he ceukl see the deputation had the matter in their own hands. If they could come to an understanding it would prove mutually beneficial. He favoured the maternity home proposal but the Ross people had ap|X‘nred apathetic till the present outbreak of illness had come along. He would give their agitation for a doctor every possible support. Mr T. W. Duff said he was only a new member of the Board, having recently been appointed, to fill a vacancy, but he had every sympathy with the efforts of the deputation to try to get another doctor in the south. Tf another doctor was obtained for the district, no matter where lie was stationed it would be a good thing for all the district-. He did not consider a, maternity home without a doctor was desirable. The proposal that the Chairman had outlined was fairly satisfactory. The

matter lays largely in the hands of the people of the district. ' The present epidemic in Ross had caused the people there to lie more earnest in the matter, which deserved tho best attention of the Board.

Mr Evans said the people in Ross felt the funds the Board proposed to devote to a maternity home should bo devoted towards the cost of a doctor.. Mr Wild said the Board were only go_ ing to provide a maternity home, if the Ross people assisted financially.

Mr Breeze said if it was as Mr Evans had stated that a maternity home was not wanted, then it would he better to devote their efforts in getting a doctor. Mr Evans repeated the desire to keep the hospital closed, and to get a doctor instead.

Hon J. Grimrnond said the Government want homes for crippled soldiers. Why not give them Totara Hospital for the purpose and let the Government find a doctor.

Mr Wild said the matter was one that called for prompt attention. He suggested that the deputation agree, to find £2OO a year for the purpose and the Board, lie thought would then ask the Health Department to endeavour to procure a medical offieer for Ross at a salary of £4OO per year. Mr Moye asked what subsidy the money would earn. j Mr Bruce, —19s 3d in the £. Mr Moye,—Then with the £2OO, the Government would find the balance of the salary, at no cost to the Board. , Mr -T. L. Martin, (Waitaha), said lie . felt sure his district would join heartily in the movement for contributions and . give their quota of the sum required. | After discussion the members of the deputation agreed to find at least £l5O , per annum, with a larger sum if possible, towards the salary of a. doctor for 1 Roas. i The Chairman then moved that the Board in consideration of the deputation from Ross guaranteeing to contribute to the Board a sum of not less than £l5O per year, the following telegram be sent to Dr Valentine, of the Health Department, Wellington:— •! “Special meeting of the Board held to meet deputation from Ross, agreed j | to approve of appointment of a Doc- j

tor for Ross, at a salary of £4OO pciannum, with free house and right to private practice, if Minister approves. Please endeavour to procure doctor. Need is urgent.” I This was seconded by Mr Breeze and I carried unanimously. The Chairman tlien thanked the deputation for their attendance and the meeting terminated. j