WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 25

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. ■The committee met in Dunedin on Tuesday, there being present: J. Matheson (chairman), W. Bryant, E. Macdonald, A. Fraser, J. Clark, J. Horrell, E. Morgan, and J. Ritchie. Dr F. S. Maclean represented the Department of Health. The Wanaka Motors, Ltd., advised concerning motor service from Timaru to Waipiata, via Palmerston.—Received, the secretary to inquire with reference to time table arid fares. The Acting Director-general of Health (Dr Watt) advised that he was prepared to recommend the Minister of Health to agree to the extra expenditure required to provide a suitable house for an assistant medical officer.—Received, and the matter of arranging with the architect to prepare plans and invite tenders was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary, with power to act. The Maniototo County Council, in reply to the secretary’s letter of inquiry, wrote respecting rates on the committee’s property.—The letter was received and the matter left in the hands of Mr Morgan and the secretary to look into and report. Dr Kidd (medical superintendent) reported that on April 1 there were 115 patients in the institution, all of whom, with the exception of ,14, whose condition was stationary, were doing well or improving. He reported on his visits to the different centres, during the month, and recommended patients as suitable for treatment from the following districts:— South Otago 4, Wnitaki 2, South Canterbury 2, Ashburton I, and Southland 1. The secretary reported that at date of meeting there were 116 patients in the Institution from the following districts: —• South Canterbury 37, Southland 37, Ashburton 17, Waitaki 11, South Otago 10, Wallace 1, Maniototo 2, and Waipiata Committee 1, and of, that number two had been in the institution for more than 18 months,, four for more than 12 months, and 110 for Jess than 12 months. Since the previous meeting of the committee six patients had been discharged, all with the disease arrested. He submitted a list' of patients who had been examined and recommended for treatment by the medical superintendent from the following districts;—South Canterbury 11, Southland 9, Ashburton 1, Wajtnki 5, South Otago 6—a total of 31. The Farm Committee submitted a report on the milk, mutton, etc., supplied to the sanatorium during the month, and purchases of wethers for killing purposes. The secretary reported having received returns of sheepskins and wool sold by the Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association, while .the chairman reported having purchased a suitable wagon for the sanatorium farm. All the reports were adopted and certain requirements in the way of harness, hosing, etc., asked for by the Farm Committee were granted. The same committee was also authorised to act in the matter of increasing the capacity of the storage dam, the ManioCounty Council to' be asked for the services of its engineer in laying off the work .-connected therewith. The committee was also authorised to take steps towards further levelling and improvement of the grounds round the new female patients’ shelters,, for which work provision had been made in the board.’s estimates. The treasurer (T. Pryde) submitted a completed statement of the committee’s estimated maintenance and capital expenditure for the ensuing year which had already been approved by the committee at its previous meeting, and stated that on going further into the whole of the maintenance requirements of the institution and farm the rate per day per patient charged to the associated boards could be reduced from 9s to 7s 6d, and he had notified the associated boards and the department accordingly. He also stated that the average cost per occupied bed for the year ended March 31, 1920, was £l2B 3s, as against £135 9s last year. —Adopted, the report being considered very satisfactory, showing that the expenditure was having careful supervision by the committee and its staff. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the' committee at Waipiata on Wednesday, May 29.