TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1919, Page 6

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs M. Fraser (chairman), J. Andrews, P. J. Hill, E. Gilmour, G. Andrews, A. H. Halcombe, J. Young, G. Copper, G. Young, and S. Campbell. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported the number of patients admitted for the month as 93, discharged 88, died 4, remaining in hospital *)5, highest number for one day 107, daily average 98.7, operations 39. The month had been busy in all departments. Cases of diphtheria still kept coming in, and the isolation block was kept open for that special purpose. The matron was expected to resume duty on September ACTDJG.MATRON'S REPORT. The acting-matron (Miss G. Bawden) reported the following nurses left on holiday leave: Nurses Paynter, Dew, and Merrin. Nurses Siddins.'Paget, Galway, and Paynter had returned again to duty. Sister Kennedy severed her connection with the hospital on August 31. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The dispenser and house steward (Mr. C. T. B. Perrin) reported steady progress was mantained with the painting work. The gardener was busy top-dressing lawns, etc. The grounds around the lake needed attention, and he thought they could be made one of the beauty spots of the town. RANGIATEA HOME. The matron (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported satisfactory conditions in the home during the month. There was one death and there remained in the home 41 inmates (7 females and 34 males). INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The health inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) reported 21 canes of infectious diseases, received from the following districts u Taranaki County, four cases of diphtheria, one of tuberculosis, three of influenza; New Plymouth, two eases of diphtheria and one of spinal meningitis; Waitara, two cases of influenza; Inglewood, one oase of tuberculosis; Egmont County, five cases of influenza; Clifton County, one case of tuberculosis and one of influenza. There had been some alarm on account of a number of deaths within a comparatively short period of Maoris at Parihaka. Investigations were made, and it was found that all the sick patients in the district were receiving treatment from medical practitioners at New Plymouth, Kaponga, or Manaia. Most of the cases of deaths were amongst people of advanced years. Subsequent visits failed to reveal any cause for serious alarm. A suggestion had been received that a tangi which it was proposed to hold at Waitara should be stopped, but before the suggestion was made the inspector had visited the premises and found everything being carried out in a safe and orderly way. The cases of influenza that had been reported did not appear to show any tendency to spread. Mr. Capper asked if there was any report as to conditions at Kaimata, as he understood there were cases of 'diphtheria No report had been received, and the chairman said the matter would be looked into. It might be that the reports had been received, but the inspector had not had time yet to investigate them. _Mr. Halcombe said the experience in his district was that the inspector was out within an hour or two of cases being reported. . . NURSES* HOME. The architects (Messrs Messenger and Griffiths) reported satisfactory progress with the new building. Ninety-eight cubic yards of concrete had been placed in position, all the steel joists fixed, and all hands were engaged in erecting decking to carry the balcony concrete floors and work preparatory to the plaeing in position of the first floor joists. A commencement had been made with the drainage, the sewer connection completed, two manholes erected, and the portions of drains laid had been tested. Five carpenters, five laborers, and one bricklayer wore continuously employed, with additional casual labor at intervals. FARM REPORT. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported satisfactory progress during the month. dairy herd yielded 13,018 lbs of milk, which had been abundant for all requirements. A total of 159 dozen eggs and six fat fowls had been sent to the hospital. Four young pigs were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Preparations wore now in hand for the coming autumn and winter feed crops, and he did not think there would b_> much ground to spare to grow vegetables.

Mr. C. Andrews aaid the position in regard to the farm was very unsatisfactory in consideration of the large amount of wages paid. The board was paying about £SOO a year, and what was it getting for it? He then drew attention to the condition of the grounds round the Rangiatea Home, which, ho said, were overgrown with weeds. Cabbages were going to seed, and nothing was done for this season's vegetables. He asked why the inmates of the home were not getting vegetables regularly, as complaints in this respect had been made to him, it being stated that they did not get vegetables more than three times a month. He wanted to know whose fault it was. He thought they should have vegetables every day. He would like the committee to inspect the grounds, which he considered were a disgrace to the board. The chairman said it was his practice to visit the home about once a week. He had had one complaint in regard to lack of vegetables, but it was from a man who complained no matter what was done. The matron informed him that the inmates received cabbage twice a week and they were getting a supply of vegetables q#ite sufficient for their requirements. He thought, however, that more could be done in the method of growing vegetables than at present was the case. Mr. J. Young said he was of opinion that the manager of the farm was a thoroughly competent mini, but he thought it was impossible for him to do both farm and garden. Someone should be put in charge of the garden, and the committee should not expect the farm manager to do the work. Mr. Andrews said he did not think four men were necessary to run a small farm and about 20 cows. He felt sure Mr. Young would not carry his own farm on on such lires. He did not wish to find fault with the farm manager, but with the expense of running the farm and the board not getting what lie thought was a fair return for it. Mr. G. Young said if the farm eommitte* was not satisfied with tht work

being done an inquiry should be made by the board. The chairman referred (he members to a departmental report which was before them, in which it was shown that only two hospital boards did anything witii their land. The New .Plymouth Board s farm had produced supplies in 1017 in value totalling .Clll-17, and the Minister had complimented the board on the manlier in which the farm was being managed. Mr. Halcombo said the matter of tin* milk supply and the cost of its production had been a difficult problem for the board for a long time. He did not think it was a. serious matter for the board even if they lost money on the farm, so long as a good supply of fresh, pure milk was made available for the hospital, and in doing that he thought the board was doing a good service to the ratepayers. The chairman said the farm manager must be defended from any aspersions, ft was, however, impossible for him to give his time to growing vegetables. There was not a lazy bone in his body. He had been through a somewhat severs winter, and while farmers all round tlw district had been losing stock he had lost practically none. He trusted the board would not allow any aspersions to be east upon the farm manager.

Mr. C. Andrews said lie was not attacking the farm manager, but lie wanted to know *v)io was in charge of the grounds at the home. If anybody could go up there and say they were satisfactory then he would say no more. Mr. J. Andrews (chairman of the farm committee) said if the conditions were as complained of it could only apply to, the present season. He had not been there recently, but he knew that last season a good supply of vegetables had been maintained. He questioned if anyone was actually in charge of the grounds of the home. An arrangement had been made some time ago by which some of the inmates had agreed to do some of the gardening work, but it had apparently fallen into neglect. It was, of course, difficult to ensure that old men such as were in the home could work with any regularity in the garden. Mr. C. Andrews complained that one man who wag specially paid for doing the work in the garden had done nothing, but wag actually working on the farm.

The secretary pointed out that Jhe home was dependent upon the inmates for a large amount of the work insid-3, and but for that the expense of maintaining it would be much heavier than at present. It was agreed that the committee would look into the matter when visiting the home. DISTRICT NURSING MATTERS. Several letters were before the board in regard to the question of getting a district nurse established at Opunake, and also a nurse for Uruti. The Opunake Association stated they were desirous of obtaining a site for the purpose of erecting a cottage hospital, and had approached the member for Egmont (Mr. C. A. Wilkinson) on the matter, who viewed it in a favorable light, and who had also interviewed the Minister on the subject. The latter,,wliile being favorable to the proposal, desired to know if the Taranaki Board also were in favor of such a step. The secretary stated that he had written to Mr. Wilkinson stating that, while the board was no; in favor of the Opunake portions of the district forming a district of its own or merging into any other hospital district, and if the grant of land was solely for the purpose of the erection of a district nursing building the board thoroughly endorsed the application. This letter was confirmed by the board. In regard to the position at Uruti, it was decided to grant, if necessary, a subsidy up to an additional £SO for the purpose of securing the services of a suitable nurse for the district.

During the general discussion that took place the opinion was strongly expressed by several members that adequate salaries should be offered that would induce nurses to go out into the back districts, and that their salaries should he a charge on the ratepayers rather than dependent upon public subscriptions. GENERAL. The Wellington Hospital Board forwarded copies of some resolutions, for which support was asked, dealing with the difference between the ordinary widow's pension and the pension of a woman who was called an ''epidemic widow," and seeking to arrange some uniform system for such pensions. The board decided that the matter was oFsuch vital and far-reaching importance that it would be better it should be brought before the conference of boards rather than that individual" boards should deal with it. An application was received, through the Uruti Nursing Association, from Mr. W. F. McAUum to rent the district cottage until such time as it was again required by a nurse, when lie would be prepared to vacate it. It was decided to leave the matter to the discretion of the association. The District Health Officer wrote that, in view of a possible recrudescence of the influenza epidemic, the board was expected to have a supply of drugs in readi. ness, which could be obtained from the Defence Medical Stores, Wellington. A letter was received from the Acting Inspector-General of Hospitals in regard to the proposed conference of hospital boards, suggesting its postponement for six months on account of the absence, through sickness, of Dr. Valintine. During his visit to other countries he would be looking into hospital matters there, and would probably come back with information which would be of much value to boards. In the meantime, any remit for the conference's consideration should be sent in. The Minister of Public Health consented to the expenditure of £I7OO on the amended plans for the nurses' recreation room. The application of Miss Jessie Lambi? (Mangatoki) for a position on the probationer stall' was received, and her name placed on the list. Payments amounting to .-€1049 3s 3d and accounts to £938 19s 4d were authorised. The board then went into committee.