HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1935, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA. June 11. There has been cold sou’ westerly weather overnight, and to-day, and rain has continued at intervals. South West land reports a very severe wind over the week-end. a number of trees being uprooted. At Mt. Hercules a slip occurred on the Main South Road. The road was blocked, but a track was made over the deMr H. L. Michel last evening gave a lecture to the Women’s Institute, the subject being the literature of China, there being over forty present, who much enjoyed the address. Seven new members were elected. Invitations were accepted for Arahura and Kumara birthday parties, the secretary having charge of the arrangements. A donation of £1 Is was made to the Hokitika Junior Library Committee. Mrs Bassett was elected by ballot as delegate ‘to the annual Dominion conference to be held at Auckland in July. Bandaging and first aid instruction was given by Mrs C. Harrison, and knitting hints by Mrs I. Mclntosh. A competition in knitting garments resulted: Mrs C. Hart 1. Mrs A. Stevenson 2. Hostesses for the evening were Mesdames Connors, Cooper, Christian. Christiansen, Darby and Miss N. Chesterman.

At the meeting of the Westland Rugby Sub-Union the following fixtures wore set down fo>- Saturday: Seniors—" Excelsior v. Kiwi. Case Square No. 1 (Mr Harper); Ross v. Pirates. Cass Square No. 2 (Mr .1. McClearv). Juniors—Kiwi v. School. Cass Square, 1.30 (Mr J. Rutland); Excelsior v. Arahura, al Arahura, 3 n.m. (Mr D. Breeze); Kokalahi v. Ross at Ross W. Flaherty). Third grade—Excelsior v. Rovers, Cass Square, 1.30 (Mr J. Richards). A. Howat was regraded as a junior. H. Schroder’s application for transfer to Excelsior juniors from Kiwi was carried. An explanation asked from the Ross Club regarding the match on June ! wa s received -is satisfae! orv. The school team was granted peinrs<i(>n Io -travel to Grey mouth on June

At the R.S.A. meeting |>st evening. Mr Keating, of Otira, wrote requesting format ion of a sub branch at Otira. It was left to the secretary to inquire into the possibility of holding a meeting at Otira to comply with ‘he request. The Ross sub-branch wrote enclosing name s of seven exsoldiers who are on the unemp'oyed list and inquiring re obtaining one member an economic pension, as to which matter the secretary was directed to inquire at Wellington. Headquarters advised that the Dominion membership was 24.451 and that Hokitika was 28th on 'the membership ladder. also that the War Funds Council have made a national grant of £996 and allocation to the Westland Patriotic Association was £7. Fifteen new members were nominated and elected, also four honorary members nominated by the Ross subli ranch.

At the Westland ITosnital Board meeting last evening, the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, instead of taking them aq read, was requested by Mr W.- Jeffries, after which the chairman (Mr T. W. Dull) moved their adoption. Mr Jeffries then referred to a clause regarding an increase of certain salaries, stating that he had been informed that this was wrong by the chairman of Ihe Finance Committee (Mr E. W. Heenan). The salaries affected were those of members of the clerical, nursing and domestic staff. Mr Jeffries’ said Mr Heenan, who had moved for certain increases, had later stated the proposal was intended as a recommendation for the approval of the new Board, now elected. M r Jeffries considered it not the proper thing for a Board, of which only six were present and about to go out of office. Io vote such increases. It .was in ‘direct conflict with the instructions from the Director-General of Hospitals, which he read. Such an important matter was one. for the whole Board, and not for a meeting from which four members were absent. Tie would move an amendment to the motion for adoption. The chairman said al’ members had notice of motion, and Mr Jeffries was one of the absentees, and he had shown nothing to prove the minutes incorrect. He ruled that the minutes were a correct record of the last meeting. Mr Jeffries said he could not attend last meeting, but the chief representatives of the ratepayers had not been present. Rev. J. Knight* rose to a point of order and asked if a member not present at a meeting con'd challenge the correctness of th" minutes. The chairman: “I don’t think so.’’ Mr .1. A. Murdoch: “Of course he can.” Mr Jeffries moved that the portion of the minutes dealing (with the increase of salaries bn not confirmed, as it wa M not correct. Increases have been made to the higher paid officials, but, said Mr Jef fries, the lower grades had been left out. Mr J. A. Murdoch, seconding the amendment, said Mr Heenan had told him the motion had been put as a recommendation with the intention of guiding the members of the new Board. Mr Heenan said this was the ease. He intended his motion a« a recommendation to the incoming Board. He had thought the other members at last meeting understood this. Mr Duff: “Don’t you remember saving we were not a' fu’l Board and that other members said there was a ma jority present?’’ Mr A. Elcoek said 'here was no mention of it being a recommendation. The question of there not being a full Board present wa« raised, but he had put it forward that a majority was present, and could deal with the matter. lie took the responsibility for the action takpn. Six members had been present, and as a’l were unanimous, they re presented the majority opinion of the Board. No good purpose could be '•erved by postponing it. Another member said the old body was a better judge than- the new one in this matter. The chairman said the sn l aries raised had been brought to a standard approved by the Department. Ff it found fault the Board would hear of it. Mr Jeffries said the ratepayers would know all about it shortly when they had to pay increases in rates. Messrs Jeffries -and Murdoch asked that their dissenison bo recorded when the Board adopted the min.ites.

Messrs Brown and Parry, new members, were welcomed to the Hospital Board last evening. The Director(’eneral wrote requesting further particulars regarding salaries and wages. It was decided to make application to ‘he contributing local bodies for progress payments on subsidies to enable the Board to carry on until the Board’s estimates camo down. Miss M. Harris was appointed to the position of telephone clerk at the hos-

pital. The treasurer reported receipts during May totalled £586 8s sd, the chief items being patients’ fees £234, Returned Soldiers’ Association £228, pensions £53. The expenditure amounted to £225. Accounts amounting to £1067 were passed for payment. The acting-Malron (Sister J. A. McCallum) reported patients varied from 47 to 59, averaging 54. Operations numbered 47 and X-rays 20. Miss G. Mitchell had assumed her duties as masseuse. Miss Herring had tendered her resignation as a probationer. The Surgeon-Superintendent (Dr. IL L Wilson) reported as follows: Tn hospital May 1, 57 patients, admitted during May, 69, total treated 126, discharged cured 58 relieved 5. nure'ieved 5. indoor treatment over two months 8. A letter was received from Westland Lodge, No. SO. U.A.0.D., requesting further consideration be given to their appeal for the renewal of the medical agreement. The chairman Raid they had already made an offer to them similarly to that offered to the returned men. They could repeat the offer to the Lodge. It was decided to ask the Lodge how many of its members would participate in sue! a scheme if it eventuated. Notification was received from Dr. Brokenshire that he was una.b’e to accept the position of medical officer for South Westland.

The question of a building programme was again before the Hospital Board last evening. The Directorflcneral forwarded a copy of the report by Mr G. S- Reid, technical inspector, on Westland Hospital. The Board’s attention was drawn tn rnnnv repairs needed and it was recommended this work be done immediately. Tt was evident that accnmmoda ‘ion for both patients and staff' was not equal for requirements. The Board was recommended to consider a build- 1 ing programme, and to submit proposals to the Department. The chairman said several of the smal’er matters were being attended to. lie moved the building programme* a« previously outlined ho submitted for approval, providing for a new purses’ iminr, a chi’(lron’s ward, and alterafitffis To the hospital. Mr Jeffries asked where ’h" mnnev was coming from. It -would cost between £lO 000 and £2O 000 to do all the work outlined. The cha ; r m«n said if they were going to accommodate the s ome number of patients and nurses, the work outlined was’ urgently neeessarv. and the Board must go ahead with its scheme. Mr Murdoch suggested that the Board must, make a move. If they decided to adopt the scheme and found the cost, members could then vole for what they, considered should ho done first. The chairman concurred. If the Department were unable to assist financially. it would be for the local bodies to decide regarding an increase in rates. It -was decided to await the return of the estimates, fo’lowftig which a special meeting would ho held.