WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1930, Page 2

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

MONDAY, APRIL 7th

SPECIAL MEETING

A special meeting of the Board whs held at 7 p.in. to consider the making of the annual levy. Present: Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chairman), G. Davidson, J. L. Turner, W. Evenden, T. W. Duff, A. It. Eleock, It. Meharry, M. Keenan, H. Wells and W. Jeffries.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE

From. Mrs H. L. Michel thanking Board for their expression of sympathy.—Received.

From Hospital Department authorising overdraft up to £looo.—Received.

Ifrom Same in reference to striking of levy, stating the Valuation Deparment’s valuations of the district were not yet available.—Received. From Westland County Council notifying appointment of Mr Harry Wells to fill the vacancy on the Board caused by the death of Mr E. A, Wells.—-Received.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Harry Wells to the Board as representative of the County at the Board talble ,in succession to his late father. Mr Meharry' supported. Mr Wells suitably acknowledged the welcome, promising his best efforts on behalf of the Board-

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

I have the honour to report, a very satisfactory year has just closed. At the Hospital we have treated a record number of patients, viz. 594. This is the greatest number treated since our hospital was opened, whilst we had 203 operations for the a ear. without the loss of one patient for Avjlnch the '.Surgeon Superintendent and Nursing Staff are to be congratulated. All this has been achieved .with relatively little increase in the expenditure of the Institution. t We regret. to state during the year we lost the valuable services'.of Matron Lloyd. : The Board .purposes'niarkr ing this sad event by placing a brass tablet in. the corridor of . the hospital, We also regret we are losing the highly valued and appreciated services of our Surgeon Superintendent who is leaving solely with a view of obtaining higher degrees in his profession. We heartily wish him- the success* his outstanding abilities will certainly obtain. 'J Matron Lloyd’s successor, Miss D. Strongman, filled her appointment, from Marih 12th, 1930, 'and i 3 endeavouring to prove all her testimonial’s appreciation. 1 The buildings and surround in,gp are in their usual state of sufficiency, thanks to the continued voluntary care and attention of the Chairman of the tfouse -Committee, The Surgeon Superintendent re-

commends the renewal of our X Ray

plant which has done duty since 1912. The cost of a now portable X Ray will run up t0.£150 and I would recommend this be obtained. In conclusion; 1 must congratulate the Board on the fact of no increase of the levy for the coining year, and desire •to assure members that the same worthy effort will he sustained in the future as in the past to earn tliatyhigh encomium from the Director General, “Efficiency and Economy.” Mr Davidson moved the report be received and approved. He was glad to find the year had been such a satisfactory one. Mr Duff seconded the motion. Ho ■was glad to find the satisfactory condition of the Board’s funds. He congratulated Air. Davidson, on the fine work carried out in the grounds. He also approved of the proposal to procure an improved X Ray plant and, trusted it would he of the very best.

Mr Meharry congratulated Mr Davidson on. the fine work, he had clone at the hospital grounds. The motion' was then agreed to.

ESTIMATES,

The Secretary placed before the Board the Estimates for the coming year. The expenditure was placed at £10,340, and receipts at £-4,780, leaving a balance of £5,560. It was estimated that this would be met by a subsidy of £3,160 and levy on local bodies of £2,488 and on capital rate, £275, a total of £2,781, which would be about £9O less than last year. These figures were tentative till the Valuation Department figures were available,

Br Baird here waited on the Board and recommended the provision of a new X Ray apparatus at a net cost of £135. Dr Baird also referred to the working of the' Medical Associations.

'Pile Chairman promised attention to the request made in regard to the Medical Association, and stated a vote for the required X Ray apparatus was included in the present levy. Air Turner moved a vote of thanks to Dr Baird for his interest in the Institution. Seconded- by Air Keenan and-carried. - '

.. Dr Baird thanked members for their expression of goodwill and withdrew. A discussion .followed on the X Ray plant, and ultimately the question of an X Ray-plant was referred to the Finance Committee to deal with Mr Duff then moved that the statement as submitted by the Secretary be, approved. Seconded ,by Mr Jeffries who said the last' year’s operations had proved veiy satisfactory. He thought the ratepayers from one end of the County to the other would approve of the work of the Board.

The motion was then put and care ried.

The Board rose a.t 7.45 p.m.