Waipiata Sanatorium Committee.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 23 May 1924, Page 3

Waipiata Sanatorium Committee.

The monthly meeting of the above committee was held in Dunedin recently, there baing present J Matheson (chairman), Rev. T W Potte. Hon. R Scott, Messrs H A Dovey, J Ritchie, A S Malcolm, 8 Fowles and Dr M'Kibbin (representing the Health Department). Leave of absence was granted Mr C Raid (AVnborton). Tbe outward correspondence was approved, as was the secretary's letter to tbe Minister of Health asking for a subsidy equal to £2 for £1 on capital expenditure at Waipiata. This was the outcome of a promise' made by " the Minister to representations of the com mittee at Waipiata at its March meet ing wben it was urged that to equalise matters as between Boards of the North and South Islands, special consideration should ba. given to the Associated Boards engaged in establishing tbe VVaipiata institution, and promise then, made by tbe Minister that if tbe Cora-i mittee would submit its request in writ- ' ing he would have pleasure.in referring 1 it to Cabinet.

Hon Minister forwarded consent to tbe Committee's contract of £360 for electrical wiring of buildings. The Architect (Mr E R Wilson) reported on tbe general progress of building and other oc eration9, and the que - tion of sewerage treatment Bnd the sys tem to be adopted was left in the bands of the Chairman and Architect with power to act. Tbe latter estimated that the Nurses' Home would be ready for occupation in about ten weeks' time, and considering the difficulty in obtaining tradesmen, fair progress has been made in the work connected with tbe other tuilding3.

In connection with t*te proposed hy-dro-electric scheme for generating power and light for the lositution, Health Department forwarded a rerort from its consulting engineer (Mr -J H Anderson) endorsing the No 2 scheme submitted by Mr A P Aldridge < iectrieai engineer, providing for gsn(rai hydro-electric scheme and standby oil engine plant at an estimated cost oi £6690. The Committee decided tnat Mr Aldridge be asked to prepare plana tad [specifications of the sebem*

for submission to tbe Committee and the Department with a view to im iling tenders for the work, the Secretary to arrange with Mr Aldridpe regarding fees.

It was decided to hold over the construction of en asphalt tennis court urtil the sprirg. [ The que.tion rf planting shelter Bnd fruit trees was left in the banc's of Me3 srs Ritchie and Scott to confer with tbe Medical Superintendent. The Medical Superintendent (Dr A Kidd) reported that at the beginning of April there were 16 patients in the Institution, one being admitted and two being discharged, leaving 15 on May 1. He reported on tbe condition of patients which wss very satisfactory The question "of furnishings for the Nurses' Home and indenting of crockery was left in tbe hands of lbs Chairman and Secretary to confer with the Medical Superintendent and Matron. The mutter of drafting regulations regarding the Medical Superintendent's services being available in a consulting capacity was left in the hands of Dr Kidd and the Secretary to submU to a later meeting.

The following Boards forwsrde>i applications for admission of patents: Seutkland 3, South Canterbury 2, Ashburton 1, Vincent 1. It was decided to admit a patient from Southland and one from Ashburton, the others being left on the waiting list for admission when beds are available.

The Treasurer reported that from April 1 to date the Committee's receipts were i 5715 lis 6d, payments—maintenance £346 lis sd, capital £2723 10s od, leaving a credit balance to date of £3712 8s sd. This was adopted, the action of tbe Chrirman and Secretary in paying the April accounts totalling £3070 15s sd, was approved. Accounts totalling £398 103 6d were passed for payment. The Secretary reported thet members of the present Committee would go out of office in June, and in terms of the Constitution be was directed to advise the different Boards to nominate representatives for the ensuing twelve months.

It was decided that tbe next meeting of the Committee be held in Dunedin on Tuesday, June 3.