HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VXII, Issue 7154, 20 March 1901, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

At the Hospital Board meeting on Tuesday, the Chairman moved the adoption of the report, a summary of which was published in the Star yesterday. — Mr Mackay *. Is there any scheme for a sewage system for New Plymouth ? —The Chairman : I am afraid it is a long way off —ln answer to Mr Sutton, the Chairman said that Nurse Smith was employed weekly at £2 2s.— Mr Sutton reckoned that there should be an extra permanent nurse at the Hospital, as the staff was overworked under the present system, especially on the night shift.— The Chairman said the trouble was to get nurses, who were in great demand throughout New Zealand.--Mr Lepper said that the board was in i fault, aa they did not pay their nurses sufficient wages. The board paid > nurses £35 a year, and tho nurses bad to carry their lives in their hand?. The consequence was that as soon as the nurßes got a chance they left and took | private practice.— Mr Sutton objected to Mr Lepper's remarks, as he contended in their hospital at Hawera they had as capable a staff as could be desired. — Mr Lepper said he did not mean any reflection on the present staff. I What he meant was that nurses got better wages in private practice, a matter of £2 2i a week, and they therefore preferred this work to the hospital work at lower wages.— The Chairman : I don't agree with Mr Lepper. I hold that the •• Sairey Gamp " class of nurse has not better times than the hospital nurse.

Dealing with finance, the report stated:— You will recollect that, when the question of building the home was under discussion early last year, I estimated that by continuing to levy the present rate of lOd per cent, and on an increased rateable value, we would be able to clear off the cost in about three years. The figures then quoted still hold good, but £ feel bound to submit to-day a proposal to make such a levy for the coming year as will enable us to provide for further necessary expenditure and bring our outstandings into smaller compass than we contemplated. The introduction into Parliament of the measure entitled "The Local Authorities Bill, 1900," and which provides for the repeal of a number of Acts now in force, indicates a dispostion on the part of the Government to abolish the subsidies from the colonial funds hitherto paid to various local bodies, and, if carried, would mean to us the loss of the £ for £ which has until now formed such a substantial part of our revenue. Although the bill was not proceeded with last session, it will probably bo again brought into Parliament this year. In view of the possibility of our losing the assistance of the subsidy, I would strongly urge upon the board to this year take the fullest advantage of the existing arrangement, by levying an increased rate, and so seeming this useful increment while still available.

The rateable value of the district last year was £5,301,505, and the rate of lOd per £100 thereon produced a sum of £2208 15s. This year we have an increase of £433,460, the assessment being £5,734,965, made up as follows : — £

Our expenditure, ascertained and a iraated during the coming year, and including the present liabilities to bank and contractor, may be summarised thus : — £ Debit balance as per Secretary's statement 2509 Approximate cost of maintenance of Hospital and Homes, and charitable aid (last year 8s 2d) 5000 Extras on contract for Home ... 180 Estimated cost of fencing around Home 100 Estimated cost of furnishing Home , ... 400 Drainage of Homo and Hospital (if septic process adopted) .. • 300 Total 8489 Against this I suggest that provision be made as follows : — £ A levy of one shilling and two pence per centum jon £5,734,965 will produce ... 8345 Subsidy thereon, £ for £ ... 8345 Estimated receipts from maintenance 800 Kefunds and sundries 250 Total 7740 Thus leaving us with a debit balance at the end of the next financial year of £749. — I am, Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, F. P. "Corkill, Chairman. The following table attached to the report shows the comparative values of the district under the old and new valuations : — RATBABLE VALUES OF DISTRICTS, OLD AND NEW. Old New Increase £ £ £

t The Hawera Committee's report, signed by Mr Sutton, was then read. The report stated that the matron, Miss Furlong, had gone on a holiday. Dr MacGregor visited the hospital on March 7th. The committee was informed that the doctor expressed approval of the • addition to the hospital, and was pleased with the surgical operations that had been performed on two of the patients in the institution. The doctor expressed his disapproval of the present fence round the outside of the grounds, and recommended the planting of a boxthorn fence.— lt was decided that the fence would bo planted in the future.— The repprt was then adopted.— Herald.

Hawera County 175285 1909685 Taranaki „ 1376494 1618182 Stratford „ 1001036 905848 Clifton „ 319083 398100 New Plymouth 526379 556888 (Borough) Hawera Borough 200469 201343 Stratford „ 121883 145793 154400 241668 ♦95188 79017 30509 876 13910 5,301,505 5,734,965 •Decrease.

lawerti County ... 'aranaki County ... Itratfovd County ... 'lifton County few Plymouth Borough lawera Borough ... Itraiford Boiough ... ... 1,909,68{J ... 1,618,182 905,846 398.10 C 556,88fc 200,46£ 145,79£ Total ... £5,734,96!;