WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21580, 27 February 1932, Page 7

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Dunedin on Tuesday, there being present Messrs E. Macdonald (deputy chairman), H. E. Niven, W. Bryant, J. Rodman, A. King, J, G. Johnston, J. Ritchie, P. Aitkeu and Inspector Cameron representing the Department of Health. The Southland Hospital Board advised that Mr H. E. Niven, of Edendale, had been appointed as its representative on the committee in place of the late Mr John Matheson, and the deputy chairman and Mr Ritchie welcomed Mr Niven to the meeting. It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Ritchie and Bryant* that Mr Macdonald should be appointed chairman of the committee in place of the late Mr Matheson. Miss M. Shepherd, matron of the Balclutha Hospital, wrote accepting the position of matron of the Waipiata Sanatorium in succession to Miss E, A. Wilson, who had resigned, and the Director-general of Health advised that the Minister had approved of' Miss Shepherd's appointment.—Received. The medical superintendent reported that on January 31 there were 108 s patients in the institution, and with the exception of 10 whose condition at, present was stationary, they were all doing well or improving. He stated that’ he had visited the different centres in the committee’s districts during the month, and recommended as suitable for treatment, patients from the following •districts:—Waitaki two, South Canterbury three, Ashburton three and Southland I.—Noted. The secretary reported that at the date of meeting the following boards had patients in the institution: —South Canterbury 33, Southland 34, Ashburton 15, Waitaki 11, South Otago 8, Wallace o, Vincent 3, Maniototo 1, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee 1, a total of 111. institution for more than two years, Of this number eight had been in the institution for more than two years, 19 for more than one year, while the balance of 84 had been under treatment for less than 12 months. Since the last meeting of the committee six patients had been discharged, five with the disease arrested and one with the disease quiescent. The secretary also submitted a waiting list of 19 patients, and stated that arrangements had been made for five others to be admitted almost immediately, leaving an actual waiting list of 14.—Received. The farm manager submitted a report on the milk and meat supplied to the institution during January and an account sales of 21 pigs disposed of at the Burnside sale yards.—Received. Mr Aitkeu, on behalf of the Farm Committee, reported on the farm opera-

tions generally and the work done during the month, and the report was received. The matter of water supply , to farm buildings, and the erection of an implement shed and sitting room fire place for the farm hands was left in the hands of the Farm Committee with power to > act, on the understanding that the build- ; ings could be cheaply erected, as most of ’ the material required was at present . on the ground. The treasurer (T. Pryde) reported on the state of the committee’s finances, showing that the actual expenditure for the period was well below the amount ■ estimated at the beginning of the year, ■ and stated .that probably by March -81 1 the committee might be in a position to consider a further reduction in the charge to the Associated Boards for 1 the maintenance of, their patients.— Noted. ■ A communication was received from the Department of Health asking for information regarding the committee’s capital expenditure proposals for 193233, and, after some consideration, the treasurer’ and medical superintendent 1 were directed to go into the question of procuring a suitable X-ray plant for examination purposes, there being at 1 present in the committee’s hands an un- ' expended balance for capital purposes 1 from the previous year’s accounts. Although it was stated that there was : great need for the erection of the ad'f ministrative block for the better working of the institution, the committee was of the opinion that owing to the economic ; conditions prevailing the erection of this would require to be held over in the ; meantime.' i Accounts and salaries totalling £968 4s were examined and passed for payment.