WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1920, Page 1

WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25th

The Board met at 8.15 p.m. Prefient —Messrs R. Wild, G. Davidson. W. H. Chinn, W. Searle, J. Ritchie, and S P. Evans. The Secretary (Mr. T. W. Bmce) took the c hair, and read the notification of appointments. He then invited eomiiintioris fop the position of c]iaivman> Mr \yjl4 proposed Mr Davidson too Chairman. M r Davidson declined nomination and proposed that Ml' AVilcl he Ye-ifippointpd. Chairman. Seconded by Mr Searle, supported by Messrs Chinp and Ritchie. Mr Wild was then electecj unanimously Chairman and took his seat, thanking members for their unnnimpuse vote. Mr Ayild moved a vote of thanks to the retiring members, Messrs Duff, Breeze, Chesterman and Wells, for their valued past services. Seconded by Mr Davicfson and carried. The Chairman welcomed the new mom! ers to the Board.

The Chairman moved that all Committees be dissolved. Seconded by Mr Ritchie and carried. The following new Committees were then appointed: Finance —Messrs Ritchie (chairman), Blank, Davidson, and Chairman. House and Reserves—Messrs Davidson (Chairman), Mm’ e h Chinn and Ritchie.

Cheques and Documents —The Chairman, Messrs Davidson, Ritchie and Rlanh- , , It wps respired tp mept on the second Monday > n tfc® mouth at 8 p.m.

T]ie minntes were 'confirmed and outward correspondence approved. The Chairman submitted. ' $ report op the conference at Qreymouth, at which lie and Mr Davidson represented the Board, when they had met representatives of the Boards on the Coast and Dr. Valintine and Dr. Frengly on the .Health Department (particulars already published).—Report received.

In connection with a proposal to provide an auxiliary light for Kumara Old People’s Home, and it was resolved to ask the Hojuse Committee to provide a report on prices and systems for next meeting During the reading of the minutes and outward correspondence much time was taken up in supplying information of the Board’s past actions, for the information of the new members. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Health Department ad dsing laying in of coal supply.—ReceivedFrom Inspector General of Hospitals stating motor ambulances were not yet available.—Received. From Same approving of appointments of Dr Bruce Baird, and Dr. Teichelmann at" Westland Hospital and of Dr. Greenwood at Kumara—Received.

From Same in connection with denotation from Kumara, who asked dint the Doctor’s residence at Kumara be made available for the doctor and diat other arrangements be made for removal of female patients therefrom. Received; Mr Evans stated he had paid a special visit to Kumara by request, to enquire into the grievance of the people of Kumara, for the right to have the use of the residence. He had received the following resolution pmsed at a tneeting at Kumara last eyening — (‘This meeting pf residents of Rum urn and surrounding districts emphatically protests against the action of (he Charitable Aid Hoard in refusing the use qf the budding in Kumara for the specific purpose for which it was erected; viz., a residence for the local dwipr, and persisting in using it qs q j'QTa e for aged women who were npt residents of this district; and further this meeting wishes to strongly emphasise the fact that the said building was ejected some 33 years ago by voluntary contributions from the people, subsidised £ for £, by the Government of the day from the consolidated revenue and that the building in question is the only suitable one'An Kumara for a Doctor’s residence and the refusal by the Board to grant its use for such purposes will in all probability be the means, of preventing a Doctor f’cm remaining in the district, which would be a serious blow to the welfare of the community generally and in view of such a contingency arising, the Minister of Health be asked to make provision for the qccommodation of these 1 aged women in Kumara Hospital (where they formerly received attention) or elsewhere and instruct the Charitable Aid Board to hand over the building to the people of Kumara for a residence for the local doctor, for which it was originally erected.” Mr Evans then moved tfiqt the Roqrd grant the medical officer the use of the residence at Kumara in accordance with tlie desire of the residents. The Chairman seconded the morion pro forma, and then outlined the course of the arrangements for the appointment of a doctor, who was appointed at a salary of £450, without any reference to the residence., During the last ten years tlie Board had paid out £23,754, and during that time, Kumara had found £9,452. Now, because some 37 years ago they had contributed about £2OO nominally for a doctor’s residence while the'Board bad found over £12.000 out of its funds they claimed that they had found the moneys He thought it was

presumptions on the part of the Kumara people in demanding that the residence should he handed over and he would oppose it strongly. A lengthy discussion followed after which Messrs Chinn and Searle notified support of the Chairman’s attitude. The motion was then put and lost, Mr Evans voting in favor. From Health Department supplying details of laundry at Grpymputli, for sale at £1,525, and one from 4pder-

sons Ltd., at £2,4ss.—Received; It was reported that Mr Davidson had inspected the plant at Greymoutli and reported that it was in good, satisfactory order. It was resolved to accept the offer of Mr Nash of Greymoutli and arrangements were made for payment of instalment through the building fund.

It was resolved to ask the Department to at once prepare plans for tho new laundry building. From T. E. Y. Seddon and Prime Minister, re .interviews by Kumara rosj.denti.s and also with contents of Public Health Bill—Received. From 0. A. Ralston, Audit Inspector asking for further pnrticiijl'ars of Board’s finances from 1916-1920.—Re-ceived; to be supplied. From Canterbury Board asking for a renewal of agreement for upkeep of three shelters at Cashmere Sanatorium —Received; tp be renewed for five years.

From Dr. Bathgate, Otira, asking for leave of absence at New Year during period the works there will be defied d,own. —Received and granted Subject to approval of Otira Committee. i •

From Sister Baker, South Westland nurse, asking for furnishings for residence at Waiho.—Received; to be sup-

plied. From Dr. Greenwood thpnkipg Board for appointment at Kumara as medical officer.—Received.

It was resolved to take action against a debtor for maintenance, who had not paid any of the amount owing. A number of formal letters were received and dealt with.

From Secretary, AVaiJio Committee in connection with requirements for the Distnet nurse.* —Received.

From District Nurse asking for telephone communication to nurse’s home. —Received; It was resolved to make a personal application fo the Chief Postmaster on the matter. In the event of a refusal to supply q direct conniption, it was resolved to ask southern residents to supply the poles and the Board to provide the wire. From tho Health Department Wellington, stating the Public Works Department recommended that instead of inviting tenders for the new wing at Westland Hospital, the Board carry out the work themselves, and asking for the. decision of the Board.—Received. It was resolved to ask that the Public Works Department be asked to invite tenders.

From W. H. Batson, enclosing en

quiry as to a sum of money handed in to trust account of the Board. —Received ; a reply to be sent accordingly, From Kumara Committee (per W. H. Evenden) enclosing £75 contributions towards medical officer. —Receiycd. From Otira Committee forwarding £33 16s 6d contributions.—Received. From Women’s Benevolent Committee enclosing report.-—Received and adopted. Accounts amounting to £1214 3s 3d were passed for payment.

The Finance Committee recommended the Secretary's salary be increased

by £25 per annum and that all accounts for maintenance be rendered monthly.—Received and adopted. It was resolved to confer with the Surgeop Superintendent as to having days of dischargo at the hospital, to assist in tlip collection of accounts.

The House Committee reported on conditions at the hospital; that a mini, her P.f pigs had been sold; asking for arrangements to be ntqdp i’qr storage pf patients effects; that it \vas considered qdvisahl® tp adopt a systeni of indepting goods, reporting theft of three coils pf barb "'ire from shad at foot of hospital hill.—Received. The Treasurer reported receipts £593 IQs 3d, pqymeqts £1221 3s 3d; credit balance £373 9d.—Received. Mr Chinn opened a discussion 0 n the question of opening a maternity home in tho Ross hospital, urging that aetion should bq taken.

Mr Evans said this was an old question hqt lie pointed opt that the cost involved was substantial, as the medical officer at Ross had stated that two qualified nurses at at least £l5O each with other staff would bo required. Messrs Davidson and Ritchie supported the movement. The Chairman stated that the proposal would involve an expenditure of an additional £IOOO a year, while the Eoard had already exceeded their estimate of expenditure for the year. He suggested a report he obtained for the information of members before considering the annual estimates. Mr Chinn moved that Messrs Searle, Ritchie, Chinn, Evans and Chairman report to the January meeting on the suggestion. Seconded by Mr Searle and carried.

It was resolved to obtain a new air cushion for the horse ambulance.

The Board rose at 12.3 a.m