OUR HOSPITAL

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 11, 14 January 1910, Page 8

OUR HOSPITAL

The meeting of subscribers to the Hospital called for last night lapsed for want of a quorum, there being present Messrs Bickford, "V\ ratt, Johnston, Ivilford, Rathoone, Rya n, and Buick. Tlie paucity of attendance need not necessarily imply a lack of interest in the affairs of the Hospital, for the handsome support given to the recent bazaar disproved that, but it may be assumed that the public arc perfectly satisfied with the present management of the institution, and are therefore disposed not to worry. Further, the meeting last night coulcl only have been a formal one, as under tlie Act passed last session, tlie present trustees Hold office until their successors are elected under tlie new franchise. In this franchise contributors, as contributors, do not participate, and therefore the election of two trustees, which lias been customary at the annual meeting of contributories, could not have taken place. Under these circumstances, the business transacted could only have been of the most formal character, and would probably have been confined to giving those present some information regarding the finances and general conduct of the Hospital, such as is contained in the subjoined bal-ance-sheet. The financial position today is really better than that shown in the balance-sheet, which brings the figures only up to December 31, the credit balance at the bank to-day being something over £I3OO, and still a few pounds to come in. As against this, however, the Trustees have decided upon an expenditure of a considerable sum upon an operating theatre, and other improvements to tlie Hospital, which are necessary to bring it thoroughly up to date and make it easily the best institution of the kind in the district. In view of the recent legislation, this is a most important point, and the policy of the trustees is one we are sure will be heartily endorsed by every resident of the district. A perusal of the following figures will be sufficient to show the magnitude of the trusLees' transactions, and when we consider the comparative youth of the' Hospital, we might well marvel at tlie magnitude and rapidity of its growth. The subjoined is the balance-sheet, which would have been submitted to the meeting last niglit had one been held :—- Receipts.—Balance in bank, January 1, 1909, £45 10s 5d ; subscriptions and donations, £847 5s lOd ; Government subsidies (24s in £), £1216 14s 3d ; Waipawa Hospital Board, £2186 10s; patients' fees, £194 17s 4d; sundry transfers from P.O. Savings Bank, £S92 9s 3d; miscellaneous, £63 10s 7cl; total, £5446 17s Bd. Disbursements.—Salaries, £BBO 17s 4d; drugs and surgical instalments, etc., £149 9s Id; furniture, £434 12s 2d; provisions, etc., £342 5s lOd; buildings and grounds, £2423 12s 5d ; fuel, lighting, etc., £379 6s Id; balance in bank December 31, 1909, £836 14s 9d ; total, £5446 17s Bd. Assets.—Buildings and grounds, £7454 ; furniture, £966; drugs and instruments, £120; ambulance van, £80; live stock, £3O; subsidy unclaimed, £ll 3s 2d; cash in bank, £836 14s 9d; total, £9497 17s lid. Liabilities.—Sundry creditors, say, £IBO.