SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 8

SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH. (Special to Daii t liues.) INVERCARGILL, June 13. At _ to-day’s meeting of the Southland Hospital Board the chairman (Mr John Matheson) gave members an interesting resume of the board’s history. “The Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was set up in 1885 by the passing of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act of that year,” said Mr Matheson. “At that time it comprised the whole of the area now covered by the operations of the Southland and Walla™ and Fiord Hospital Boards. The first meeting of the newly-appointed board; under the Act was held in the Municipal Council Hall, Invercargill, on November 5, 1885. The only surviving members of the first board, I think, are Sir Joseph Ward, our present Prime Minister, and Mr M. Heller. Mr Nicholas Johnston was chairman of the meeting. At the first meeting Mr J. W. Bain was elected chairman, and retained office until December, 1890. He was succeeded by Mr Alfred Baldey, who occupied the position for two years; then fo.lowed Mr David Roche, 12 months, Mr W. H. Hall, two years. Mr Roche in 1895 for three years, and Mr Andrew Bain 10 years from 1889. Mr Bain was succeeded by Mr John Mac Gibbon and Mr David Roche one year each. “By the passing of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act in 1909 the constitution of all hospital and charitable aid boards was altered, and the board then took charge of the following institutions, which heretofore had been administered by different controlling bodies;— Southland Hospital, by the Southland Hospital Trust; Frankton Hospital; by the Lake Wakatipu Trust; Arrow Hospital, by the Arrow Hospital Trust; Eiyerton Hospital, by the Wallace Hospital Trustees. The last-named institution some time prior to this date had been taken over by the Wallace and Fiord Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which comprised the counties of Wallace and Fiord, the borough of Riverton, and the town district of Otautau. The only institutions that were established and controlled by the old Hospital and Charitable Aid Board were Gore Hospital, Hew Fever Hospital, and Lome Farm Home. The new board set up in 1910 consisted of 12 members, and was presided over by Mr A. F. Harke for seven years, Mr James Fleming for five years, and Mr John Matheson for the past seven years. By an amendment of the, Hospitals Act in 1920 the designation of boards throughout the Dominion was altered bv striking out the words ‘Charitable Aid.’ They are now simply called ‘ Hospital Boards.’ • Of the present board members, Mr Colin Robertson, of Waikaia, has the longest record, having been appointed the representative, of the Southland County Council in November, 1897—31* years ago. Mr J. S. M'Dougall (Bluff), representing the borough of Bluff, has been a member of the board for 16 years, Mr H. F. Niven 14* years, Miss Birss 12 years, and Mr Matheshn .10 years. The late Mr James Fleming, who represented the Southland County, and who died on January 6, 1927, wa s a member for more than 24 rears. The first Secretary of the board was Mr William Pettigrew, who'occupied the position- for 12 months, being succeeded bv Mr Thomas Perkins, who held office for 11 years. Mr R.- Bourchier, and Mr K. Day. The present secretary (Mr T. Pryde) took up the position in March, 1908.” ’