CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20190, 30 August 1927, Page 13

CENTRAL OTAGO.

MANIOTOTO HOSPITAL BOARD (From Our Own Correspond-in r.) NASEBY, August 29. A meeting of the Mamototo Hospital Board was held on Wednesday last, and was attended by Messrs H. W. Davis (chairman), P. Bleach, T. Ramsay, B. Morgan, T Dowling, F. C. Hove, P. Aitken. and T\ Hall. The minutes were read and confirmed and inward correspondence read and received. The Health Department forwarded advice that the first instalment of the year’s levy had been passed for payment, namely, £496 12s 2d, and forwarded a circular giving information on procedure for raising loans. . ’■ The Secretary of the Hospital Boards Association forward various circulars, including one dealing more effectively with tuberculosis. The opinion of tho various boards was requested. It was decided to hold tho matter over till next meeting, to give members an opportunity of studying the proposals. In reply to a request for payment of the cost of treating an assisted immigrant who had developed a complaint soon after landing in New Zealand, the Immigration Department sent a contribution of £lO. In reference to the proposed erection of a hospital at Ranfurly, the hon. secretary of the Maniototo branch of the Farmers’ Union forwarded the following resolution, passed at a recent meeting of his branch: “That this meeting is strongly_ of the opinion that, before any money is raised by way of a loan, either by the Hospital Board or County Council, a vote of the ’ratepayers should first bo taken. It was resolved to reply to thq effect that the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act gave no power to the board to take such a vote. In reply to a request for information, tho Otago Central Electric Power Board replied that the board’s lines extended to Galloway and Springvale, and a further extension as far as tho boundary of Maniototo and Vincent Counties at Becksbridge was under discussion. Although nothing was yet decided, there was some prospect of this work going forward in the near future. The question of extension beyond that limit had not been considered "for the reason that no inquiry had boon received from Maniototo district. The matter could be more fully considered if tho board’s lino were extended to the Matakanui district. Tho Otago Electric Power Board replied to the effect that there was no likelihood of the board extending its activities to this district for some considerable time. When electric power did reach this district, the engineermanager thought it would be supplied from a branch of a main transmission lino that may eventually be erected by the Public Works Department to act as a connecting link between Waipori and northern stations now under Government control.—On tho motion of Messrs Aitken and Dowling, it was resolved that tho Otago Central Electric Power Board be requested to go further into I ho matter and give particulars as to cost, etc., as soon as convenient. The Chairman of the Local Government Loans Board wrote asking for a return of the estimated loan proposals for the year ending March 31, 1928. —-It was resolved to reply to the effect that the board had made no decision on this matter, although there was an arrangement with its bankers for an overdraft of £3OOO if required. Tho report of tho Hospital Committee was road and received. Dr Eudey reported that Nurse Christie had resigned her position as surgical staff nurse. —The resignation was accepted with regret, and tho secretary was instructed to invite applications for a successor Mr Hore said the work of the hospital would be better served if a married couple were engaged, tho man to do gardening and other work and the wife to cook.— The proposel was agreed to, and it was

resolved to invite applications at a salary of £l5O. Arrangements were left to the chairman, Mr Hore, and the doctor to deal with the matter Accounts amounting to £376 Is 2d were passed for payment. Dr Kidd notified the discharge of a local patient from the sanatorium and an application for admission was received from a Ranfurly resident. The Chairman gave a report of the results of one canvass made for subscriptions to erect a hospital at Ranturly, a sum of £2BBB 10s had been promised, with more to come in. The collectors had had no difficulty in raising the amount, and it was a very gratifying response to the efforts made. He proposed that they should send a deputation to Wellington to interview the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and Dr Valiutine (the director-general of health). Mr Aitken, in seconding, also made reference to the liberality of the snb.scribers, and several other speakers did the same. Mr Hore questioned their power to pay the expenses of the delegation out -of the board,’s funds. On the motion of Messrs Bleach and Morgan, Messrs Aitken. Dowling, and Dr Eudey were appointed the delegates. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr Bitchener, member for the district, asking him to make the necessary arrangements, and also to request the assistance of Mr James ■ Horn, M.P., and Mr R. Scott, M.L.C. A vote of thanks was "assed to the nonmembers of the board who assisted in the canvassing (Messrs J. O’Neill, J. P. Little, and J. W. Blakely) and to Messrs F. A. Lewis and T. Gilchrist, who supplied cars for canvassing Oturehua district.