HOSPITAL BOARD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 246, 8 June 1932, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD

Our Own Correspondent)

MONTHLY MEETING DEPT. REQUIRES INCREASED CHARGES AND WAGES CUT NO ALTERNATIVE

(From

OPOTIKI, Tuesday. The Opotiki Hospital Board met in the Council chambers on Monday afternoon. There were present, Mr. J. F.- Short, (chairman) and Messrs. G. F. Powell, S. Shalfoon, J. Moody H. R. Hogg, J. T. Merry and Dr. Budd, Medical s_uperintendent. Letters were received from other hospital boards in the Bay of Plenty district, stating that as the conference of Hospital Boards in Wellington was of unusual importahce this year, they were each sending their own delegates,. and, did not therefore, wish to contribute to sending a delegate from Opotiki. Dr. Budd suggested that the board might find it- eheaper to make arrangements for patients from Motuhora to be conveyed to Opotiki for treatment, than to allow them to go to Gisborne as at present. It was explained that this frequently had heen done as it was easier to proeure a conveyance to Gisborne. The only. alternative was for the board to hire a special car to bring patients /fco Opotiki. A letter was read from the Health Department in which. the- Department refused to pass the estimates unless th charges were increased from 10/6 to 12/- and 6/- per day and wages were redueed on a sliding scale as suggested in conf ormity. Considerable discussion ensued, hut it was decided, that although the board were very averse to either charging more or reducing wages, no alternative was open to them, as the estimates must ue approved in order to earry on. It was decided to carry out the Department's suggestions. Each member expressed his regret at the necessity. Necessitous Case Mr. S. Shalfoon mentioned the case of a relief worker with a large number of children dependent on him, and who was in urgent need of relief. Mr. Shalfoon pointed out that in this particular case, the circumstances were exceptional in that the man had eight children dependent on him and had recently lost his wife. The Unemployment Board was unahle to give the man more than 2£ days work a week. Mr. Shalfoon ; thought the board might be able to grant some assistance. Mr. G. Moody stated that he also knew this case and he considered that something should be done. The chairman pointed out that the board must he particularly careful in dealing with this matter as they might make a very dangerous precedent. After the case had heen fully discussed, it was decided that the man should he assisted in making an application to the Government for a family allowance. Mr. McDonnell pointed out that the hospital farm appeared to require more manure, hut was told that while the board was aware of this, it could not alford to spend more money on manure than it was doing at present. The only tender for the supply of bread for the hospital was from Mr. Hartley. This was accepted at lld per four lb. loaf, with a proviso that should the price of flour fall, the price of bread should also he redueed* Mr. Rennett's tender for meat was accepted. Mr. Inskip was the successful tenderer for groceries.