THE HOSPITAL FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1920, Page 6

THE HOSPITAL FARM.

QUESTION OF DISPOSAL DEFERRED, A REPORT TO BE OBTAINED. At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the question of the farm, which had been deferred from last meeting, was agai:: umler discussion.

Mr. J, Andrews, chairman of the Farm Committee, said he could see no cause for alarm. The balance-sheet showed a lo« of £2OO, but against this the £154 for metalling iiad been charged on the year's working, and he considered it should be spread over five years. This was very reasonable, as the metal, witp a little attention, would last ten years. Members expected the farm to be carried on at the same rate as in pre-war times, but the cost of running a farm had gone up enormously. There was also the added difficulty of keeping up a regular milk supply throughout the year, the area being too small to enable the dry cattle to be kept. It was absolutely necessary that the manager should have full control/of the staff, instead of which for months the staff had been working against the manager. The Committeewould be prepared, if they got & definite bona fide offer for the farm, to consider whether it would be better to suspend farming operations or go further out. His advice was to carry on until such an offer was received. Personally he thought that next year they would be able to run without a loss. Mr. Gilmour said that there had been an increase in the expenditure of £BOO last year, and he wanted to know where it had been expended or wasted. Regarding the dispute between the manager and Mr. Jury, he had no brief for either, but he certainly thought the farm committee should have taken evidence from both.

Mr. C. Andrews thought the time had come when they change their manager. With a practical man the farm would pay. Mr. Halcombe said that though th* balance sheet showed a deficiency, the loss was not so great if they took inta account the metalling /and other items Mr. Hill po'nted out that a supply of milk could be obtained at a less cost than that from the farm. Mr. Halcombe doubted this, in view of the difficulty it was reported people had in obtaining milk for babies. Results, he said, would well justify the Finance Committee if they could see their way clear to carry on the farm for another year.

Mr. Gilmour said that he had always ndvocated the hospital patients having the best of everything, hut he did noc think any farmer would contradict him when lie said that the expenditure on the farm had been excessive. He then moved that a special meeting of the Farm Committee be held to visit the farm, and go thoroughly into the matter in all its aspects, reporting to the next meeting of the board.

This was seconded by the chairmaa and carried.