WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

MONDAY, APRIL 7th

The ’.Board met at £.15 p.m. Pres-, ent: —Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chairman),, (I. H. Blank, 1.. ; H. Morel, G. Davidson, W. Jeffries, It. Meharry, A. jB. Spiers, and E. A. Wells. The minutes were confirmed and out-, ward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Dr. Valentine, Wellington asking for particulars of all cases of blindness in the district.—Received. From Hospital Department renewing authority for advance on levy for ensuing year.—Received. It was resolved to apply for an .advance of £IOOO. Prom Minister of Health, Wellington, stating it is proposed to make an amendment to the Workers Compensation Act and that the Board’s representations in regard to the claims of the Board for maintenance from accident being safeguarded, would then bo considered.—Received. F rom Public Trust Office in regard to the estate of a deceased patient.—Received; further enquiries to be made. Front Resident Engineer, Greymouth, forwarding particulars of wages earned by a worker at Otira.—Received. Front Government Statistician acknowledging returns for Otira hospital. —Received. From Commissioner of Taxes asking for returns. —Received and attended to. From Canterbury Hospital Board claiming for maintenance of a Westland resident.—Received.

Emit Wellington Hospital Board, to same effect.—Received. From Mrs M. Gunn, Tetaho, a -number of letters, one accepting position of District Nurse, and a further one refusing to accept the position.—Received. The Board resolved into Committee to deal with the letters. The Board then resumed. Mr Davidson said, having heard the statements of Mr Jeffries and the Chairman he moved that they receive the thanks of the Board for their action in endeavouring to obtain the service of a doctor or nurse to visit Mrs Cron at the Haast. Seconded by Mr Spiers and carried. The Chairman moved that the resignation of Mrs Gunn he accepted. Seconded by Mr Blank and carried. The Secretary reported that on. instructions of Hie Chairman he had wired to Nurses Hence, Scott and Drennan, and they had replied stating they were still, applicants for the position of District Nurse.

It was resolved that Nurse Jean Scott ho appointed subject to favorable icplies being made to enquiries next day. From J. Graham, Hariliari, reporting he had passed tho Waiho Gorge Cottage, as satisfactory.—Received.

From L. Gibb, Waiho, reporting meeting of Waiho Hospital Committee, on March 22nd., when Mr J. Schilling’s resignation as secretary was received and accepted; enclosing balance sheet of Nurses’ cottage with credit balance of £6 4s; stating the Committee desired to state that a letter written by tho former secretary (J. Schilling) to the Minister of Public Health some months since, purporting to be from the Waiho Committee did not originate from them and they took no responsibility therefore, as the Secretary sent the letter on his own responsibility in compliance with a Wataroa grievance; that the residents-of Waiho were forming a working bee to clean up the cottage hospital grounds and suggesting the fencing and grassing of four acres l’or a paddock for a horse— Received.

The Chairman moved that the Board convey to Mr Gibb and the Wailio Committee its sincere thanks for tlieir efforts and that the Committee be now dissolved in accordance with their request. Seconded by Mr Jeffries and carried.

From T. A. Condon, Tutu re, supplying particulars of expenses £7 45., in furred in receiving attention as the result of an accident, and asking for consideration.—Received. The Chairman moved that one half ho paid by the Board.—Secdndod by Mr Morel and carried. From Miss M. M. Toker, resigning position as probationer at Westland Hospital.—Received and accepted. From Master, Old Peoples Home. Kumara, forwarding £l9 8s 3d, sale of pigs etc; applying for annual holiday for E. Poole.—Received; Mr Spiers to attend to necessary repairs.

From W. Robertson, Otira, notifying £l3 )6s, subscriptions and that the remaining goods had been consigned. —Received.

From Surgeon Superintendent, Westland Hospital reporting patients iu hospital Ist. March 24 males, 12 females—36. Admitted during March—--19 males, 15 females. Total treated 47 males, 23 females—74. Discharged cured,—l6 males, 16 females, relieved 1 female, died 1 female. Total discharged 10 males, 12 females—2B. In hospital 31st. March, 27 males, 15 females—42. In hospital for two months 10 males, 5 females—ls.—Received.

From Valuation Department, "Wellington, notifying the following valuations—Westland County £780,776; Hokitika Borough £202,228; Kumara Borough £20,909; Ross Borough £19,886 ; total for district £1,023,799. —Received. The House Committee reported conditions satisfactory at the hospital and good progress was being made at the Old Peoples Home; also on a number of matters requiring attention.—Received and adopted. The 7'erasurer reported receipts £9ll 9s 2.1; payments £1471 11s 2d; debit balance £867 4s.—Received.

Accounts amounting to £645 3s SJ were passed for payment. The report of the outdoor Relief Committee was received and adopted. Mr Jeffries moved that this Board renews its application to the Minister in Charge of Hospitals for a grant of £2OOO for the Old Peoples Homo and that we congratulate the Greymoiith Board on its success in obtaining their grant. We express keen disappointment at the action of the Government of the day in according differenti: 1 treatment as has been done in this case alone. Seconded by the Chairman and carried.

LEVY FOR YEAR. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. ' You will observe by the estimates placed before you this evening we are finishing up the year with a dr. balance or overdraft of £B3B, this being aboqt the amount the estimates for 1923 were reduced at the meeting held on April 30th., 1923. For the coming year rye have computed the amount required at £11,460 for maintenance and the receipts at £4543 leaving the sum of £6517 to Tie found by levy and subsidy. Under the Amendment Act of last year we have to make our levy in accordance therewith which will be 20-46 to be made by Levy, equals £2833, making Government subsidy £3684. This is an increase of about 4s 3d in the pound on last year and not 26s in the pound as rve were led to believe. The actual Government Subsidy works out at 23s 6d in the pound. Last year it was 19s 3d in the pound. We anticipate it will lie at least another six months before the Old Peoples Home at Hokitika is ready for occupation and have provided £ISOO as against £1933 cost of Homo last year. There is no increase in any estimate for the coming year; as the estimates now before you show an increase of sub-

sidy .of £832-for the year giving n corresponding decrease in the levy of the Westland County £159, Hokitika Borough £4O. I would ask you to adopt the estimates as they stand seeing the cost of living is increasing and not decreasing.

There is no Capital Levy being made this year as we hope to raise the amount requirecf 1 for .completing the furnishing the New Ward and Quarters by ■Voluntary Contiribujtions during the year. the ESTIM ATES*. The estimates on which the levy for 1924-25 on the contributing bodies is to he struck oil April 28tli. 'are :—- Expenditure:—-Bank Overdraft £B3B 2s 7cl; Westland Hospital £6600; Kumara 0. P. Home £1500; Refund of Pensions £282; Outdoor Relief £450; Sail. Fees £7O; S. W. Nursing £250; Industrial Schools Fund £SO; Ill's., Kumani £230; Ambulance Maintenance £SO; Interest on overdraft £2O; Interest on Loan £120; Fowl Run £SO; Board £SOO. Total £11460 2s 7tl. Receipts: —Voluntary contributions £200; Subsidy on contributions £216; Patients payments £2180; Pensions £1150; Rents £100; Mental Washing £940; Sale of Produce etc. £133; Safe of Sundries £24 2s 7cl; Maintenance levy £2833; Maintenance subsidy £3684. Total £11460 2s 7d. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

Expenditure:—Dr. Balance £29 Is fid; Completing Old Peoples Home £1576; Completing Isolation Wqrd £100; Completing Water Tank £165; Furnishing Quarters £400; Furnishing Waiho Cottage £250; Repayment Sinking Fund £196. Total £2716 Is oil. Receipts:—Cash in hand £1834 3s 4d; Voluntary contributions £400; Subsidy on Same £460; Interest on Deposit £2O; Excess £1 18s Id. Total £2710 Is Od.

Maintenance Levy' 24-25, £2833; Maintenance Subsidy 24-25 £3684; Sum required £6517.

Tho amounts required from the local bodies, are as follows: Westland County £2160 10s sd; (last year £2592). Hokitika Borough £559 11s lid; (last year £669.) Kutnara Borough £57 17s 2d; (last year £70.) Ross Borough £55 0s (id ; (last yea r £65).

Mr Blank moved that the proposed levy be approved and he sent on to tho local bodies for consideration, and tint a special meeting be held on April 28th. to confirm the levy. Seconded by the Chairman and carried. The. Board rose at 10.30 p.m.

A FORTUNE IN A JAR. “Some one left von a fortune, my friend—you look so bright.” “Yes! a doctor recommended “Maltcxo” (Wilson’s Malt Extract) as a tonic for my run-down condition. After taking it for a few days, I felt a new man—plenty of ‘pen’ and energy. I call “Maltexo” a fortune in a jar.’.