VINCENT HOSPITAL BOARD

Dunstan Times, Issue 3128, 31 July 1922, Page 5

VINCENT HOSPITAL BOARD

A meeting of the above Board, held at Cl) de on Wednesday last, was attended by Messrs J. Smart (chair), J. Ritchie, A. M. Brodrick, C. Ray, S- T. Spain, J. McKnight and W. Black. The balance-sheet, which has appeared in these columns, was read and approved. A verv large amount of correspondence was read, most of it being in connection with matters of an official nature. Mr Horn M.P. wrote re v.d. danger pointing out that a commission had been appointed to enquire. Corresdondence was read in reference to the suggested resident' doctor at Lauder, Dr McGibbon suggesting a conference of those interested. The Chairman explained that the position was that the Board had agreed to the appointment. of a doctor and cottage hospital at Lauder, the settlers finding the money and the Board collecting the subsidy. There was also the question ot a straight out grant. Mr Ritchie understood that the St. Bathans people had .Zs oo to ef ect a doctor’s residence. He had seen Mr Inder of Maniototo who suggested that the two board’s might contribute £IOO eaeh, and he thought it a good idea to have the suggested conference. The Lauder people should be pul in the same position as Pembroke. Mr McKnight understood that all the preliminaries had been arranged; and as the repffesentative of those chiefly concerned, he said that all they wanted was the Board to get them 24s for every 20*- found. (Hear ! hear !) Mr Ray moved— That the chairman and Mr Ritchie he appointed delegates to meet the Lauder people and dept. Mr Spain agreed that the Lauder people had a claim, hut they were not in the same position as Pembroke. The former were only a comparatively short distance away from Clyde and they had the additional advantage of a railwav service. Any money spent at Lauder- would not save them a shilling at the Dunstan Hospital. Mr Ray remarked that they could not go back on their former promise. It was a question of helping people to help themselves. Mr Black, who thought that, the doctor at Lauder should be selt supporting, and said that they had not agreed to a cottage hospital. In reply to this, and at the chairman’s request the clerk read a Board minute agreeing to the erection of a residence and cottage hospital. In reply to Mr Ritchie, the chairman •aid, that the Board already had a cottage hospital at Ophir, the present idea being to alter the location so as to offer a better inducement for a resident doctor. Nominally the Board would he responsible for the interest and sinking fund, and he considered ’ it their duty to do everything possible to help the people. The clerk intimated that he had attended a meeting at the Health office. Dunedin, where it was stated that the Maniototo Board would agree to the doctor being at Lauder, but not at Ornakau After some further discussion, the resolution re appointment of delegates was carried; no authority helm; given to commit t he Board to any contribution . NOTICE OF MOTION Mr J. Ritchie moved the motion standing in his name—- “ That the present system of Hospital management by Committee be discontinued; and that in future the Board will manage both hospitals itse’f.” Mr McKnight seconded In speaking to the motion, Ml Ritchie < said that he appreciated the j good woi k done by the committees, but was satisfied that there were many abuses. The Board was elected by the people to administer its affairs, and vet it handed its money over to other people to manage its hospitals. Some years ago the County had only to find some ;£6oo; now it was .63,000 and ratepayers were clamouring to know where the money was going to. He believed that stores should be bought in the cheapest market, and he was strongly of opinion that a good deal of money could be saved. There were some members of the Board who had actually never seen a hospital account, which was a state of things which should not be allowed to continue. It was suggested that doing away with the committees would eliminate the sympathy of the people, hut he did not believe that for a moment. At present it took no less than 25 people to run the Board. Mr McKnight endorsed and supported the proposer, remarking that he was up against the duplicating business. Mr Ray was opposed to any change. He believed that all charitable institutions should be run oil the most economical lines, and he believed that the committees were doing the work well. The reason for the increased cost, complained of by Mr Ritchie, was simply the result of progress and efficiency. Mr Black said the motion went too far. The committees had done well but lie thought the Board should exercise more control c:v<-i the financcrs. Mr Brodrick was against the change believing it was necessary to have members of committees near the hospital where they had a more intimate connection with its a flairs. Mr Kane supported the motion if only for the reason that he thought the Board should run its own affairs. Mr Sp in had sympathy with the motion, but he thought it went too far. There was a doubt whether the Board would run the hospitals better than the committees. 1 he Hospitals were costing too much, however, and he sug£e,sted the appointmedt rf a committee

to look into the question. The Chairman did not favor tlie change, as he believed that having the committees widened the interest. He was glad to hear the well-deserved tribute paid by members to the committees. After further discussion it was decided that the whole Board be a committee to enquire into hospital manage mem, and report to next meeting. The meeting then closed.