THE HOSPITAL FARM.

Shannon News, 5 October 1928, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL FARM.

STATEMENT BY BOARD'S CHAIR MAN.

Foxton, .Sept. 21

“Now that the Minister has given his consent to the purchase of the additional land at Awapuni, the ratepayers may wish to know how the farm connected with the Old People's Home is turning out, ” said Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, to the “(Standard's” Foxton representative in an interview last week.

“We originally got 10 acres of land from the Kairanga County Council. When we were looking around for land to build the Old People's Home, Mr. Yoss, who represented the Kairanga County on the Board, and Mr. MeLaughlan, who took a great interest in the hospital, suggested to their council that their gravel reserve at Awapuni would be an ideal site for the home. The council generously fell in with their view and donated 10 acres of land on which the home is built, to the Hospital Board, and we are for ever grateful for the gift. In addition, they lease to us a few acres which they do not require. Wc had previously milked a few cows at the hospital, but these were transferred to Awapuni and the land around the hospital in grass is used to rear the heifers that we keep. The supply for some tiure was sufficient, but the rapid increase of patients at the hospital, necessitating the nurses and domestic staff being materially increased, made it imperative in the interest of economy that we should get more land. We bought a farm adjoining the home and increased the number of cows; they are fattened .and vegetables are grown there, and our orchard supplies a good deal of fruit in season. With the additional nursing staff (required to give the nurses a holiday one day a week) and the Maternity Home requirements, we found that the number of cows could not supply the milk consumed. The estate of thfe late Mr. Waldograve offered the Board some adjoining land. Several other properties in the immediate neighbourhood were inspected by the whole Board more than once and it Was decided to purchase the land from the Waldograve estate as being most suitable. It consists of some 15 or 20 acres of good terrace land with a large area of what is known as the accretion adjoining our present farm. The following is our estimate of what the coming year's return and expenditure will be, the department paying half the cost of the land:— £ Cost of laud 225 Expenses. Interest on purchase money at 04 per cent 140 Received by County Council .... 1Cost of labour, manures, seeds, cartage to and from farm to hospital, horse feed and expenses, etc 800 Interest on the value of cows .. 20 Excess of returns 6G6 £IOSO Return. 25,000 gals, milk at Is 1250 Vegetables supplied 250 Pigs Ido £1650 In addition we get. pure milk from tested cows. The Board considers that we will soon want more milk than the above, but is starting to improve the land on the accretion, which it is considered will allow us year- by year to increase the number of cows. We are this year clearing and ploughing 20 acres of the accretion. To do this requires a swamp plough drawn by a tractor, and it is better to let it by contract rather than purchase an expensive plant for which we have only occasional work.”

MATTER DROPPED BY COUNCIL

‘ ‘ UNDIGNIFIED TO PROCEED ’'

Palmerston North, October 1

To-night the Palmerston North Borough Council decided they would let the exchanges with the Hospital Board about the Board’s purchase of an additional- farm property at drop, taking the dual attitude that no • good could be done by prolonging the matter and also that it was undignified for the council to proceed further. A letter from the Board stated that it had been decided that it was unwilling to discuss the matter with the council and the purchase had been proceeded with, the approval of ’the Minister of Health having been obtained. The Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) moved that the letter be received, but Councillor Hansford was not slow in moving an amendment as follows: "That the council regret that the official reply of the Board dated September 21st had not reached the council in time to enable a protest being lodged with the Minister.” That Mayor thought it was much to be regretted that the Board had adopted such an attitude, but Cr. Mansford went a step further and suggested that the Board’s reply to the council had been delayed on purpose, although Councillors did not agree. The Board coulcl well have given the information, Councillor Mansford said, and thus saved much unpleasantness. He did not want to descend to personalities, but he had been very surprised that a man with such experience as Mr. J. K. Hornblow should so far lose his self-respect as to make such remarks as ho did at a Board meeting. The speaker reiterated former statements that he did not want to criticise the Board's farming policy, but he wanted to be satisfied that the farm was being run on sound business lines: He referred to the difficulty many people had had in getting replies to their correspondence from the Board, and quoted several cases in which there had been long delay. The cor-

rcspondence and accounts of the Board, he considered, should receive better attention. Councillor Eliott voiced regret at the Board's attitude, pointing out that they had invited criticism by their circular to local bodies, but had proceeded with the purchase before the council had had time to voice a protest. Councillor Fitzlierbert pointed out that it would be undignified for the council to proceed further. In any case, if people were not satisfied with the Hospital Board they had a remedy at next elections. Couneillor Clausen agreed w r ith the previous speaker. On the amendment being put it was lost by 6 votes to 2, and the letter received.