WESILAND HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1930, Page 3

WESILAND HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13th. The Board met at 8 p.m. Prefsent: Messrs.. J. J. Breeze (Chairman), G. Dayidson, A. R.. lElcock, R. Meharry, Wi/ Jeffries, ■W. Even den, M. Keenan, H. "Wells, and T. W. Duff. ' The minutes were confirmed and correspondence outward approved.

DOCTOR’S RESIDENCE, MATAJNUI

From’Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Mjn-. ister of Health, Wellington, as follows :

With,..reference to. your letters of the 13th. aiitl 22nd August. J regret to have "to advise that in endeavouring to further the financial proposals in connection with the provision of a residence for the doctor at .Mataiiiui, several legal and administrative diffi r cultieis have been met with. In the first place statutory provisions, I am advised, do-not permit of subsidy of £SOO being paid in anticipatipijjof Contributions to your Board over a period of years, from the . settlers at Matainui. , '» f* •fY

Further it is almost certain that none of the Government,, lending departmenth will, advance an amount, to your Board unless it assumes full responsibility for repayments and .interest.;, Your Boaird has again I note referred •' to its previous'* stipulation that it was to be put under no liability fiiftFfespMv of the doctor’s residenceJyHowJevof, ia. view of the fact that the property in question is to vest .in your Board and you r Board is to receive a reasonable rental J trust that it will Ihe. willing to forego itfl stipulation, in . this respect. qifiis, nevertheless, 'still leaves la difficulty with regard to Government subsidy. On the occasion of a deputation to the Minister of. Mines, (Hon. W. A. Witch, of Wataroa) on the 3rd Feb-ruary,'-Mr O’Brien, M.P., stated that “it was the intention of the Medical ..Association to borrow £SOO towards; th!©' cost.” This suggests a eolation of the subsidy difficulty as it would be possible to subsidise the amount so raised £ fort '£" if it. were donated to your Board. The approval of the i\l in ister of Finance would be necessary buW before seeking this I desire to learn-if' the proposal that the Medical Association raise the £SOO is considered practicable. Possibly at the time it was put forward the idea was that, the property should be available as security for the loan to be raised by‘the Association. It is clear howThat if the Board is to obtain sffbsidy' the property would have to vest in the. Board. . y ‘

•Jn view of tine difficulties. Above - indica-ted l am constrained to l ©commend that, the following scheme ol finance be. adopted:

£l) Board to raise, a ol £ldoo-'for. the erection of the doctor’!-' residence, . % (Q) The Association, to covenant to pay the 'Board an annual amount equal to the sinking, fund and;.interest on half the.loan., (3) The Government to provide the balance of the sinking fund and interest by., way of subsidy on the Association contributions. (4) The doctor to pay a reasonable rental to the Board. I should be glad' to have the views of your Board at its earliest convenience, With regard to the question of subsidy, on towards the salary of. the, doctor 1 may add that at present there is no intention ot curtailing’ subsidy on contributions to your .Board for this purpose so long as subsidy is within the limit .of the amount shown in the Board’s annual estimates as to be received as subsidy on voluntary contributions and provided, of course, the contributions are purely voluntary, i.e., do not carry special benefits ,t.o contributors. —Received. The President stated s thc position to be taken irom the letter was that the matter was at a deadlock as far as the Board was concerned.

Air Davidson said the people south had found £2OO a year to keep a. doctor theye, but after receiving the advice and promise of the Minister they now find that the Minister’s promise was broken. They should advise the Minister that they were not able to raise a loan of £IOOO and ask that the Minister carry out his former promise to provide a grant of £SOO. Mr Jeffries said they were now asked- to asfinie a liability that they had never intended to assume. One vei;y pertinent query in the letter was—Did. we 1 think the settlers of Mat&iiiuß could raise £500? He thought they, should not be asked to answer that question. Tlien another clause .suggested the Board should borrow £IOOO, which was an impossible position at present. They were placed ,in a false position, in the matter that they should not have had to face. He seconded the motion by Mr Davidson that the Minister be informed that they were unable to provide £IOOO for the purpose, and that, a. copy of the letter be .forwarded to the Committee at Matainui. Mr Meharry supported the remarks of the two speakers. The Chairman said it was an im-possible-position to ask the Board to raise a further £IOOO loan in view of their heavy liabilities. He for one would strenuously oppose the Board being saddled with any further liability, a course that the Board had made perfectly plain from the outset of .these negotiations. ... 'The motion was, then agreed to. r V

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Front Hon. W. A. Veilch, Minister of Railways, Weflingiton, stating road access will be granted across the railway line to give access to the Board’s railway reserve noa r Sea, View.—Received. From Sir A. Ngata, Native Minister in reference to an indigent native.—Received as satisfactory, a letter. of thanks to be. sent, to the Minister for his attention. From' J'. O’Brien, M.P., forwarding, copy of amending Compensation Act.—Received. From, Department of. Health., Wellington, in reference to visits ol officers of the Department.—Received., From .Dr Watt, Wellington, in. connection with unemployment aid, and asking for policy of Board towards unemployed able bodied.—Received.; Secretary to reply to. From Dr Watt, Wellington, in reference to Maternity Home, and stating that when two requirements asked for are completed, the Home will have all the requirements of the Department.—Received. From Canterbury Hospital Board reporting on patrons in Sanatorium. —Received.

From Cancer Research .Central Committee, Christchurch, acknowledging receipt of cheque for £149 4s 7d donations and expressing appreciation of same.—Received. ,Frpm Matainui Committee forwarding £2OO (subsidy for medical officer.— Received. From M. Frteitas and J. Freitas asking for annual holidays.—Received ana request granted. MATRON’S REPORT. From Matron Strongman as follows: Probationer Anderson left on September 30th and Probationer: Crowley commenced duties on Ist October. J. Wylie has returned from annual leave. I wish to thank Rev. Warren for gift of papers, Mr. Best, for bottle of whisky, Scliaef and Son (Grey) bedside rug, Miss Ross parcel of papers, —Received. “ PATIENTS, REPORT. From , Surgeon Superintendent, reporting during . September patient: were treated as follows: In hospital list September 23 males, 12. females--35. Admitted during September 39 males, 22 females. Total treated. 62 males, 34 females.—96. Discharged cured 32 males, 19 females. Discharged relieved 2 malep. Died 1 male. Total discharged 35 males, 19 .females —54. - In hospital Ist October, .27 males, 15 females—42. In hospital for two months 6 males, 3 females—9.— Received. It was resolved to renew for a further two years the agreement with Misses Fowler and Grant, of the Maternity Home. Accounts amounting to £366 8i lOd were passed for payment. TT|c .Treasurer reported receipts £1212 Is Bd, payments .£1183...0s 9d. credit (balance £6B Is 2d.—Received. Tlie Chairman reported the Ball Committee had paid in £IBO with some further moneys to come in.— Received.

The next meeting was fixed for November 10th.

The Board rose at 9.10 p.m