SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 6

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly mooting of the South Otago Hospital Board waa held at Balclutha on Thursday afternoon, when there were present:—Messrs A. North (chairman), A. S. Malcolm, Joseph Mosley. Jas. Gumming, W. . A Blair, Jasper Clark, H. Simson, Jas. Rutherford, and A. Rennie. CORRESPONDENCE Nurse Clements, matron Kaitangata Hospital, reported as follows: —Two patients were discharged during the month of December and four patients were admitted. There were 21 out-patients during the month.—Received. The manager of the Children’s Rest Home, Mornington, wrote soliciting assistance from the board to help to pay for the upkeep of the three children of a Balchuha resident, who are at present in the hospital.—Request declined. Dr Frenglcy, Deputy Director-General of Health, wide forwarding the Minister’s approval of the plans for tho Ownka Hospital. QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION. Dr Frenglcy wrote on the subject of contributary local authorities representation, pointing out that Clutha County would be entitled on its rateable value and population to another member on the board (five in place of four); but .considering the iizo of the district the department thought that a board of 10 as at present was largo enough. The difficulty might bo got, over by grouping the three boroughs to return two members. Mr Mosley said the boroughs wore over represented, and the suggestion was a step in the right, direction. Mr Gumming said he would like to see Clutha with cine more member, but the boroughs should remain as at present. Mr Rennie: I don’t see how two men can represent three boroughs. Mr Mosley: Yes, one man would do it Mr Malcolm moved that the letter be filed for reference. Mr Rennie seconded the motion. Mr Mosley moved that Hie board remain as at. present—namely, 10 members, but that Clutha County be given one more representative, and the three borougns grouped. Mr dork seconded the amendment, which was defeated. Mr Gumming then moved a further amendment to make the number of members 11. giving Clutha County an extra representative. Mr Mosley seconded tho amendment, Mr Rernio said this meant more expense. Mr Malcolm said things had worked well and smoothly, and ho could see no reason for increasing the expenses. Mr Mosley said hi- motion would not increase expenses. Ho . l>?;ieved that the boroughs were over-represented. A dicussion ensued at this stage between Mr Mosley and Mr Rennie, the former accusing Mr Ronnie nf.^' ’talking to the gallery” on'the subject of '‘expense.” Expense only seemed to trouble him when the matter was outside of Milton. Mr Rennie hotlv retorted, and deprecated Mr Mosley singling him out. On a veto being taken the amendment was defeated, and tho motion to leave things as they were was carried. KAITANGATA HOSPITAL. A deputation consisting of the Mayor (Mr R, Aichison, and, Messrs Donaldson and Boylon. .members of (lie Kaitangata local hospital 'committee, waited on the board to ask that improvements be effected to tho hospital. Kir Donaldson dealt, with the history of the hospital. It had been intended from tho first to make it u cottage hospital. The movers had given the proceeds of a day’s work towards it, and the late Mr Robert Lee had contributed £SOO. Afterwards it became an accident ward. Separation had been expected to result in great improvements, yet so far there was no maternity ward, which was much required. The coal mines were never m a better condition, anil there was enough coal there to supply double the present output for the next 50 years. The members of the board could disabuse themselves of the idea that the coal measures were likely to give out. Ho ventured to say that Kaitangata would be supplying coal for the next 100 years. What was wanted was a maternity ward and accommodation for the staff. With a population of 1700 the town needed better hospital facilities. If the needed alterations wore made they would pay for themselves before tho Balclutha Hospital was built, in the cost of paying for patients who now went to the Dunedin Hospital. Mr Eoylen detailed what had occurred. in connection with the conduct of the Cottage Hospital under the Otago Board. Ordinary hospital and lying-in facilities were badly needed. After the Balclutha Hospital was built the Kaitangata Hospital would make an admirable place for convalescent patients. In answer to Mr Simson. Mr Boylen said the maternity nurse provided by the. Now Zealand Coal and Oil Company was only for the wives of employees of the companv. Tic charge was ss, but the nurse only attended the mother for the first day or two, and after that gave general sunorvision. In answer to a further question, -Mr Boylen said three extra rooms, one for the nurse, would meet the case, and there need only be one additional nurse. The deputation . then retired. The matter was discussed in committee at a later stage, and it. was decided that estimates be procured for the erection of three extra rooms at the Kaitangata Hospital. It was decided that Mr Simson be deputed to attend to the erection of a small shed at Kaitangata Hospital for the reception of corpses, tho cost not to exceed £25.

MILTON AND OWAKA HOSPITALS. ' Messrs Mason and Wales, architects, Dunedin, wrote informing the board that the contracts for the erection of the Owaka and Milton Hospitals had been signed by Mr Hamilton, the lime for completion being eight months. It was moved that the signatures bo affixed in the usual wav. It. was also decided to get the local doctofs to give their opinions on the plans, and to hold a special meeting to consider the plans of the Balclutha Hospital. Mr Wales (architect) to bo invited to bo present. The Milton tenders were: —J. L. Hamilton £7746 10s (accepted) : W. E. Wallace, £7786; P. A. Lyders. £8090; Charles Bragg. £Bl6oFieteher Const motion Company, £8150; T. Ferguson, £8565; Orr Campbell, £10.715; Watson Rhodes, £9945. Owaka Hospital: J. L Hamilton. £7560 (accented) ; P. A. Lvders, £8477; C. Bragg, £8500; W. Lovie. £9232; Watson Rhodes and Son, £10,443; Orr Campbell. £11.040.

GENERAL. The secretary furnished a statement of patients from South Otago admitted into hospitals during December as follows; Dunedin. 22; Tapauui, 5; Oore v< 2: Kaitangatn. 2; P.V. Sanatorium, 1; Cook Hospital, 1, ... ~ It was decided that the chairman, Mr Malcolm, and the secretary (Mr Roy) bo the hoard’s delegate to a conference in Dunedin regarding the Waipiala Sanatorium. ... The financial statement showed receipts amounting to £357 7s lid and expenditure to £528 18s Id, WATER SUPPLY QUESTION,

The secretary reported that a special meeting of the board had been bold on me previous evening regarding the Dalclulha water supply. A letter was read from Mr J. M. Stewart offering to sink a boro at 30s a foot. It was thought that the expense would amount to £ISOO, including erection of piping tank, etc. '1 his was considered a better proposition than that of the Balclutha Borough, which wanted £2OOO to connect, with the town system and Is 6tl per 1000 gallons of water in addition. It was therefore resolved (hat the board proceed with a boro cm the site at j<alclutha. It was further resolved that Mr Simson and the secretary to ho a committee to decide how the boring should lie done, as another proposition had been put forward as to a bore.

The secretary was instructed to write to Cr Shacklock, chairman of the Electric Lighting Committee of tho Dunedin City Council, asking when the electric system was likely to he extended to Balclntha. On the motion of Mr Malcolm and tho Chairman n hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Simson for his work, particularly in connection with the water supply. OBJECTION BY MR RENNIE. Mr Rennie objected ’to tho decision regarding the water supply. He maintained that tho special meeting had not been properly convened, and ho personally had been unable to attend, as it was his council meeting day. He considered the Halcluthft Borough proposal tho best for tho board in tho long run. I lie .diainnaii, in tho course of a personal oxplanlion. said ho regretted that Mr Ronnie had been unable to attend. Mr Clark said he objected to special consideration being extended to Mr Rennie. . .ur Rennie no confidence in what was done? Mr Rennie: None. I'll move that the motion be rescinded. I shall lodge a notice to that effect. \

Mr Simson said it, had been stated that the supply found by boring at Mr Clark's site was no good, but that was quite contrary to fact. If the one on the site' selected was as good he would bo quite satisfied to go on with it. Mr ~eimio: It was condemned by the Health Department. Mr Simson : No. Mr Mosley moved that the board proceed to the next business, —Agreed to. The rest of the business was of an unimportant nature.