HOSPITAL BOARD REPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18808, 10 March 1923, Page 13

HOSPITAL BOARD REPORTS

Following are summaries of the committees’ reports to come before the next meeting of the Otago Hospital Board, as far as obtainable yesterday:— . The Benevolent Committee reports having dealt with 41 cases for relief at a weekly coat of £24 Is. Casual cases for relief amounting to £262 4s lOd Rave been approved. From February 2to March. 5 three persons have been admitted to, two discharged from, and three deaths have occurred at the Otago Benevolent Institution. At present 144 inmates remain. Letters of thanks have been sent to the following for their donations to the Otago Benevolent Institution .-—Mrs Talboys, Mr Jackson. Miss Farrant, Airs Bennett, and Mrs APFadyen. The Sanatorium Committee s report contains only formal matter. The Hospital Committee recommends the board to proceed with the erection of the new kitchen block at the hospital at an estimated cost of £IO.OOO. The cost is to be met from the Powell and The block will contain dietary Kitchen in anticipation of the arvnointment of a dietitian by the University Council. The new kitchens will occupy the isolation block, and it is intended ultimately to shift the boiler-house to the site of the present kitchens. In the meantime the boilers will remain where they are, and the committee recommends that the installation of certain auxiliary machinery bo completed. The Finance Committee recommends that the question of opening the sanatorium at Wakari stand over for 12 months, and that in view of this decision Dr Lyfh bo r.skod if he has any alternative suggestion to the opening of the "Wakari institution. The board’s position has been affected both by the separation of Shvuth Otago and by the proposed establishment of a sanatorium at Waipiata. The Wakari buildings are standing empty.

Not long ago much was said about the ravages of deer, and an assurance was given that the Government would seriously consider the matter (says a Press Association wire from Wellington). Recent proclamations authorising the limited killing of deer by sportsmen have given rise to the suggestion thaF nothing drastic will be done to moot, tno serious complaints. This is not so. The matter is now under consideration, and definite action will bo announced soon. Until the plans for reducing herds aru approved, in consultation with acclimatisation societies, the old system, will continue. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. Downio Stewart) stated that the heads of the Forestry Service, the Lands Department, the Tourist Department the Agricultural Department, and the Internal Affairs Department recently conferred on the subject of depredations by deer herds, and came to certain conclusions which will be submitted to a conference of representatives of acclimatisation societies. The Minister proposed to call the conference before the end of the present month. , He stated that he realised the importance of preventing further destrtiction by deer. He expected that as a result of the coming conference effective steps would bo evolved to put * stop to the trouble. Perfumes remain costly because the materials for making them are still twice as dear as in 1914, while alcohol, used to dissolve the essences, boars a duty of from 74« to UJ3* gallon.