WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1921, Page 4

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

MONDAY, JUNE 13,

The Board met at 8.15 p.m. Present: Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chairman), Blank, Davidson, Chinn, Burrell, Monk, Ritchie. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Manager, National Bank, re deposits falling due.—Received. The Secretary stated £ll3B was falling due and £1036 was on current account, of the building fund. It was resolved to place the two amounts on deposit for 12 months. From Dr Valintine, Wellington, re indigent patients.—Received. From Dr Wylie, Wellington, promising reply on drainage system at early date.—Received. From Dr Telford, Christchurch, forwarding plans for drainage system Received. Mr Davidson objected to the addition made to the original plan, which would add extensively to the cost, and was not warranted. He moved that, the Board could not accept the addition to the plans.—Seconded by Mr Blank and carried. It was resolved to ask approval of the original plan as approved by Mr Varney. From Dr Valintine, Wellington, sveral circulars.—Received. From Ross Borough Council, fonva ruing £l4 18s 9d.—Received. From Canterbury Board, notifying discharge of a patient from sanatorium. Received.

It was resolved in reply to an enquiry from the Grey Board in reference to a central old peoples home I eing erected at Greymouth, to ask ‘or particulars from the Grey Board. From Kumara Borough Council, acknowledging receipt of letter and promising consideration at next moo. mg Received, date noted, action to he taken if no response.

From Westland County Counri' nuking Board to reconsider action in connection with striking of levy and again suggesting a conference next day.—Received. Mr Blank moved that the former action of the Board lie adhered to.—Seconded by Mr Monk. Mr Chinn moved as an amendment that the 10quest for a conference he acceded to as it would clear flic air as to the position. M Ritchie seconded the amendment.

Mr Blank could not agree to the re quest for a conference. Have not the members sitting rouiu the table the ability to run the affair of the Board. He objected to othe people endeavouring to teach member: of the Board their duty. They wen quite capable without outside assist a nee.

Mr Davidson supported Mr Blaukb attitude. One member of the County Council had said the members of the Board weie not able to carry on theii own business, and lie took exception to that reference. As far as he could see there was only one body in West-land that did not have any criticism of its operations and that was the Westland County Council, though he. did not know why they should he excepted. Tin Board in its endeavour to reduce the lew had made an endeavour to raise monov from the Savings Bank hut without success. There was one thing that the Board did not get the support in that they deserved from the local bodies, and that was in their agitation to get the subsidies to the poorer Boards increased, if the local bodies were to use their efforts to do so it would he to their credit. He had heard of one man stating that during his term on the Board that the expense had not been made. Personally he did not seek any favor from any man. If the Board carried on as it was they would see when they had done so that they had done their duty.

.Mr Breeze said in tlie past they could, have borrowed at per cent. The County Council were the only ones who had taken umbrage at the Hoard. Tin aim and object of the Hoard was to be as economical as possible. The County Council had objected to the la rye levy on the country districts. A\ by <lid they not strike n charitable aid levy like other* local bodies. As far as the allocation was concerned the Hoard had reduced it by £9OO. That was going to be a bio job.

Mr Chinn said since his term on the Hoard he could not hut be struck with the conscientious efforts of members of the Hoard. Mr Burrell failed to sec what the discussion was about. \\ hat was the {rood of a conference. They could not reduce the estimates.

Mr Blank said the County supplied 70% of the patients, Hokitika ‘21% and Kumara 9%. The County had very little to squeak about the cost of the patients. Mr Breeze said what lie objected to is that most of the County Councillors raising the question had been members of the Hoard in the past and they had not been able to do any better, and when they try to sit on the. Board it was a. question tor the Hoard to sit down and not grant the conference. After further discussion the amendment was put and lost and the motion carried.

From North Canterbury Hoard, Christchurch, notifying discharge of a female patient from sanatorius. —Received.

From l)r Baird, in reference to enquiry as to treatment of school children in Wefttland Hospital; also pointing out the delays on the occasion of urgent calls, at the crossing of Bitted Waitaha and Little Wanganui rivers, and urging that the attention of the Minister of Health and of Public Works be drawn to the urgent necessity of having these streams bridged with the least possible delay.—Received.

After discussion on the previous letter of the Department, to wihich Dr Baird had reported on in the first clause it was resolved to ask further particulnis from the Department as to the extent the proposals would affect the Hoard. From Railway Department, Greymouth, in reference to application for a private level crossing near hospital, and promising early reply ; also supplying particulars of leases in that locality.—Received ; referred to Chairman to attend to. From Otago Hoard, Dunedin ,asking for further particulars of patient, claimed for.—Received. A quantity of correspondence in connection with the filling of the position of medical officer at Qtira was,rend, the Department notifying the appointment

of Dr Gibson of Raetehi; also from Dr Bathgate, Otira, in reference to the finding of a successor and complaining of refusal to accept a collect telegram from him. The correspondence was received.:

Mr Blank moved that Dr Gibson be appointed medical officer at Otira. Seconded by Mr Davidson and carried. From Kumara Borough Council, applying for £1 per annum for connection with Borough water supply at Old Peoples Home—Received and agreed to. From Kanieri Electric Ltd., notifying installation of electric light at hospital from June Ist.—Received. From J. S. Nash, Greymouth, re supply of goods from Thornton and Co. — Received. From Robt. Ritchie, Bruce Bay, particulars re a benevolent case.—Received. ■ From W. H. Evenden, Kumara, forwarding £75 voluntary contributions. — Received.

From .Mark Sprot and C'o., Wellington, forwarding quotation for Ford motor ambulance van at £375. —Received ; referred to motor ambulance committee.

From Wailio Committee, enclosing accounts and stating it would be impossible to raise a further sum of £203 for cottage hospital. —Received. From J. Hewer, Secretary Hari Hari Medical Association, endorsing personal statement made to Board at last meeting by J. Hewer in reference to motor ambulance and asking Tor definite sanction by the Board. Mr Blank said the movement he encouraged. He moved that all help be given to the Hari Hari movement. —Seconded by Mr Chinn and carried.

From Otira Committee, forwarding particulars of admissions; enclosing £33 4s 7d contributions.—-Received. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Blank moved that the resolution in connection with the levy being paid in nine instalments he rescinded, and that twelve instalments he inserted in its place.—Seconded by Mr Ritchie and carried. The House Committee reported the institution was visited and found satisfactory ; that ten cords of rata had been ordered at £3 per cord.—Received and adopted. The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £B6O 18s 6d for payment.—Received and adopted. The Treasurer reported receipts £473 12s 2d, payments £1740 14s 3d, credit balance £490 ss, building-account total credit £6900 19s 2d.—Received. Mr Blank suggested that a committee he invited to he set up to arrange for a hospital hall at an early date. He moved to that effect. —Seconded by Mr Davidson and carried. It was resolved to invite Benevolent Committee to elect a new Committee. The Board rose at 10.440 p.-m.