OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 248, 18 October 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

SPECIAL MEETING MATERNITY HOSPITAL BUB DEN ON 11 ATM S AYERS 1 A special meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board was held in the Labour Booms, when Messrs. S. Maxwell (chairman), G." S.' bloody, E. J. Baigent, and J. D. Clark were the only members present. The secretary (Mr. J. Henry) was' also in attendance. The chairman said that all members had a copy of the letter received from the department in connection with a maternity home.

In referring to the proposed site at the public hospital, Mr. Baigent expressed the opinion that the present hospital was not well laid out. He thought- that in another ten years there would probably be necessary a lot of renovation. Mr. Moody said that the Maoris paid no rates and the burden would fall on the Europeans. Mr. Clark said that probably a 16-12 bed maternity hospital would be required for Opotiki. He then gave various details of probable requirements. Mr. Clark expressed the opinion that the cost of caring for the. Maoris should become a National responsibility. He, stated that most of the North J>!aucl had_to pay for the Maoris and asked •why the South Island .should not pay too. The chairman said that with a Id hospital rate the borough paid £579, while the county paid £2445 with a lid rate. .The borough last year showed a substantal surplus with a Id rate but this year will show -deficit c-u the existing rate. The secretary stated that the number of registered births in the district would give no indication of the number of beds required for the proposed .maternity hospital, and it- would lie necessary to make exhaustive inquiries to find out the true position. Mr. Moody said the position in Opotiki was that- the local bodies could not afford to build the new hospital as it would double the rate. The ’Chairman : Double the rate would not cover it. It was considered by members that the cost- of the maternity hospital would be approximately £IO,OOO. Mr. Clark pointed out that in the ■last balance-sheet outstanding accounts totalled £9283 and with the amounts owing by other beards the total was over £II,OOO. Members said there was little chance of securing the £9283. It was considered that more data was required from Dr. Davis. The chairman moved that Dr. Davis be written to asking him to meet the members of the 1 board in connection with the prep owe cl hospital.—Curried. Mr. Clark referred to the sum of £37 on the balance-sheet lor audit fees and said that the AYhakatane figure was only £l4. In reply to a question the secretary paid there wq-uld be no chance of a reduction in tbe fees for this year. After further discussion on the bal-aik-e sheet, members discovered that the Coast nurse had been costing £25 per annum more than had been estimated. The secretary was instructed to secure information as to the means of purchase of section on the southern side of the hospital. Mr. Clark referred to the high cost of the X-ray at Opotiki. pointing out that the charge was from £2 2s to £4 Is. while the AYhakatane charge varied from only 5s up to 31s 6d. The secretary said the clearest X-ray. charge in New Zealand was at Opotiki.