WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1922, Page 4

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

MONDAY, JULY 17,

The Board met at 8 p.m. Present Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chairman), 0. H Blank, G. Davidson, J. Bitehie, W Burrell, H. Monk, L. H. Morel, U Jeffries.

The minutes were confirmed and outward' cdrrespbndenoe * approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From 11. Kidd, objecting to payment of rent for residence, and forwarding charge for milk supplied.—Received. This letter had been held over for Mr Davidson to have an opportunity of replying thereto. Mr Davidson slated that an agreement had been made with Mr Kidd for payment of 5s per week for rent of cottage. This he had recently acknowledged. The Board resolved to take no action beyond asking for payment of rent. From Dr Valintine, Wellington, notifying early closing of Trentlimn Hos-pital.-^Eeeeived. From Same, asking for return of medical staff.—Received and supplied. From Sanatorium Conference, TinVarti, in leferenee to recent conference and proposed scale of charges at sanatorium.—Received. From Dr Valintine, stating it was proposed to transfer T acres to Board out of cattle resting reserve at Waiho.—Received. From Dr Wylie, Wellington, in reference to isolation ward at Westland Hospital; forwarding working plans of new contract.—Received. From Defence Department, asking that all claims for soldier patients at Westland Hospital.—Received; already attended to. From South Otago Hospital Board, forwarding t evolution for approval, urging that Hospital Boards he allowed tb; borrow from the State Advances Office.-—Received ; to he supported. From Dr Blackmore. Christchurch, ill reference to a patient from Westland.—Received. From Public; Works Department, Orevmouth, refusing to contribute to-

wards maintenance of a patient in a sanatotium. who had suffered his inability at Otirn tunnel.—Received. The Secretary reported he had also

written to the Workers Union at Otirn. It was resolved to again ask the Department to contribute, the Board being prepared to find one half, and also to ask the fnion at Otira for a reply. From Scale and Johnston, contractors, in reference to on addition to con-

tract.— Received. From Matron, Otira, in reference to Idrtini tem-ii during holiday absence.— 1’ reel red. Fi"i>m Dr flifison, Otira, ashing fa* information as to reception of patients.—Received ; to he replied to. From Otira Committee, returning

I'll). passed for "housemaid” at Otirn Hospital to which they look exception'.—Received. It was resolved on tlfe motion of Messrs Blank and Gibson to approve of the recommendation and to ask for further information from the Committee. From Waiho Committee, stating the C oinmittee had resigned in a body,

and that the money in hand was being held with a view to the donors advising what should lie done with it.—Received. Mr Jeffries said there had been friction between the Committee and Board for some time past. It would he a great pity if the -amount subscribed were returned to the donors. He suggested a conference hv the Chairman, or a couple of members with the Waiho Committee with a view to smoothing away the friction that had arisen, and come to a definite decision of the future course of action.

The Chairman said the Board had done its utmost to meet the desires of the people south, hut they appeared to he divided amongst themselves, lie I a 1 made his best endeavour to bridge the trouble but it had come to nought.

Mr Ritchie approved of the attitude taken up by Mr Jeffries, hut declined to act on tlie proposed committee. Mr Monk said the south people did not recognise that the Board could not build on the Waiho site, till it belonged to the Board.. He did not see thatthere was any misunderstanding by the I'oa rd. Mr Morel thought it would he a good idea to approve of Mr Jeffries’ suggestion as a last resort. That seemed to him to lie the only way of coming to a sat isfactorv conclusion. Mr Davidson said he was sure if they had a cottage hospital in South Westland, the patients would still come to Hokitika where there was a medical officer. There was a cottage furnished now to take in patients, hut even the nurse did not reside there. If a cottage hospital were erected there it would prove a white elephant. Mr Jeffries said the Board took a

great amount of rates from South Westland, and he thought as a last resort they should make an endeavour to meet-tin- desires of the people. The fact that the cottage at Waiho was not occupied by the nurse caused him to ask why they did not get a nurse who would reside at the cottage. He thought if some of them went down, a satisfactory arrangement would lie able to he come to. Mr Ritchie said if a conference was held then the districts of Okurti, Bruce Bay, Matainui and other places should he notified of the proposed conference. Mr Blank asked if it would not he hotter to ask the Waiho Committee to defer their resolution of disbanding, until the Board had an opportunity of meeting them.

Mr Jeffries moved that consideration of the letter he deferred and that the Waiho Committee he asked to withdraw their resignation, in view of tilt letter rlceived from Dr Valintine and also that in view of the proposed conference with Board members that all subscribers to the fund he notified thereof.—-Seconded by Mr Morel and carried.

Front Taranaki Board, protesting against amendment of regulations re land agents fees.—Received ; to he supported. From E. Ireland, Humphreys.—Received, without being read, as the incident was closed. From W. 11. Batson, Master Old Peoples Home, Kiimarn, resigning position as Master anjJ also from Mrs Batson, Miss Batson and Miss Ilawke of their positions.—Received. Mr Davidson said in accepting the resignations lie did so with, deep regret. He had personally visited the Homo on maiiyy occasions and ho had -always found that Mr and Mrs Batson had been out to do their best for the welfare of the institution. Fie deeply regretted that it had, been found necessary for Mr Batson to resign his position. The Board had been saved a considerable sum by bis inauguration of the dairy herd at Kumnra.

Mr Burrell thought; the Board was losing a very able servant and be deeply regretted the necessity for tho resignation. He had saved the Board a largo amount by bis very good work at .the,,Home.

Mr Ritchie also joined, in, expressing Ills regret at losing the services} of Mr. Batson, who had doiio excellent work for the Board and institution. The Chairman said Mr Batson had saved the Board hundreds of pounds by his care and. attention in husbanding the funds of the Board. He also wished to voice his appreciation of the ser-

vices so .well given by Mrs Batson. He moved the resignation be accepted with regret.—Seconded by Mr Ritchie and carried. From Defence Office, Greymouth, ! stating the Drill Hall was not available for annual ball.—Received. From Druids Lodge, thanking Board for meeting them in connection with the reduction of patients tees.—Received.

STAFF AT KUMAR A. 1 In reply to Mr Jeffries it was stated , the staff at Kumnra Hospital was 8, ' and the patients totalled 29 that day. Mr Jeffries said bo considered the Home was- overstaffed. He thought there wore too many for the number of patients. A general discussion followed. The Chairman moved that the staff consist of a master, matron, cook, housemaid, laundress, and man assistant.—Seconded bv Mr Blank and earAPPLTCATIONS FOR MASTER AND MATRON AT KUMAR A. Applications were received ts follows: — . . Mr and Mrs-J. A. Kidd. Hokitika. Mi John ljewer. sour., Heropo. Mr and Mrs R. J. Fane, Hokitika. Mr and Mrs Geo. Hunt, Kumnra. Mr and Mrs J. Timpson, Hokitika. Mr and Mrs S. 0. Peters, Napier. Mr and Mrs J. Herring, Kumar a Junction. Mr and Mrs Geo. I.npas, Runtnpu. Mr and Mrs F. A. Ballinger, Hokitika. , . . Mr and Mrs Geo. Head, knmeri. It was resolved to reduce the numbers to :i, 2 and 1. The balloting resulted as follows: Reduced to three. —-Head 8, Kidd h, Fane I. Hunt it, Hewer 2, Peters 1. Reduced to two.—Head 7. Kidd •>, Fane A. _ ~ . Reduced to one. —Head o, Kidd informal I. „ , Mr and Mrs G. Head were therefore appointed Master and Matron of Kumara Old Peoples Home.

REPORTS. From Treasurer, reporting receipts C.VI9 Its lid. payments LT2BO 2s Id, debit balance CB7O 12s Id.—Received. Accounts totalling €641 IPs Id woio passed for payment.. The House Committee reported that dogs having caused a nuisance at the institution it be notified that poison was to be laid: that a subsidence bad been caused bv a faulty drain requiring to be filled in': that the Matron complained of the alteration to the location of a radiator and recommending the extension to the end of the roam where the patients’ cupboards were placed. Received and adopted. The outstanding necounts for maintenance due were-considered and it was resolved that public notice be given of Itu- intention to sue fori htvirli for all accounts remaining unpaid. A number of matters affecting the dairy herd were dealt with, and the meeting tc hi limited at 11 p.m.