TARARU HOMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5239, 15 February 1928, Page 3

TARARU HOMES.

CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION. DECISION OF THAMES BOARD. At Monday’s meeting of the Thames Hospital Board the superintendent of the district homes at Tararu (Mr W. D. Gilmore) reported that there were 14' males and 1 female inmates in the institution at date. The farm and gardens were feeling the effects of the prolonged spell of dry weather, and green feed was being given the stock.

Mr A. R. Robinson reported that he ■had visited the homes and found matters generally fairly satisfactory, but the effects of . the drought were being felt on the farm. The fences were in good order. The mangolds were looking well, and the twitch grafts was being gradually overcome. There was a really good crop of olnions considering .the dry weather. The water pressure, however, was. very poor at present. ■>. -

The chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) added that the milk supply was keeping up very well, and the expenditure, made on purchasing bran had been money well expended. SPECIAL- COMMITTEE’S REPORT. In the report of. a special committee, consisting of Messrs Hale, Brenan, Parfitt, and Robinson, it was recommended that the bplard should adopt the recommendation of Mr J. L. Bruce., agricultural adviser to the Department of Health, following on an expression, of dissatisfaction from the department at the heavy administration costs.

' The adoption of Mr Bruce’s recommendations would mean the termination of the. appointment of the present male and female superintendents and the calling of applications for a farm hand and a housekeeper at a cost of £2lO per annum. The present heads of the institution (Mr and Mrft Gilmorq) would be given, an opportunity of applying for the new position. The farm-hand would take, conitrol of the farm and the housekeeper would have, charge of the building and inmates.

As a member of the sub-committee Mr P. E. Brenan moved the adoption of the report, and in'doing so said that the conclusions had been arrived at only after careful consideration, and with the assistance of Mr Bruce, who was paid by the Health Department to look after the' farming activities of hospital boards. A change in adpxinistration was desirable and w,as in the best interests, of ratepayers. , Mr C. W. Parfitt seconded the resolution.

The chairman said: that the board was faced with a gradual decrease in the number of inmates. This had probably been brought about by an increase in the amount of old-age pensions and other factors. He was hopeful that in time to come there would be no women inmates. The women’s side of the homes was a very 014 building, and possibly in time there would be no call for the board to care for women there. He was of the opinion that the report would afford a certain amount of easement on the finances, and at the same time meet with the requirements of the department. Mr Kennedy said it had often been mentioned by members that the boar'fi was not getting the best out of the farm. If the contention was that the department’s expert had been to Thames and reported on the position, he was of the opinion that the board had not effected a change "for the better. It should not be nfecesisary to report that the board was being told what to do by an outsider. It was pointed out by Mr Parfitt that if the results, through the change of management, turned, out as it was anticipated they would, then .a saving of nearly £3OO- a year would be effected. In asking for support Mr Parfitt said that owing to weather conditions, the farm had experienced one of t'he worst seasons since 191415. Mr Brenan said that the board’s system of administration at the homes, had, in his opinion, been, unsatisfactory. By changing the system of management, as outlined in the report, a benefit would accrue and a saving be effected for the ratepayers-

It was finally decided, to give effect to the recommendations as from March 31 next, and tlie report Was adopted.