WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 7

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE

The committee of the Waipiata Sanatorium met in Dunedin last week, there being present: Messrs E. Macdonald, (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Rodman, H. A. Brough, J. Ritchie, T. A. Lewis, H. E. Niven, and Dr T. M'Kibbin representing the Department of Health. The chairman welcomed'Mr Niven, who was representing the Southland Hospital Board in place of Mr Golden, and who had just returned from a trip to Great Britain.

The medical superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) reported that on November 1 there were 56 males and 65 females in the institution, a total of 121, all of whom were doing well or improving, with the exception of 17 whose condition was reported as stationery. He reported having visited the different centres in tiie committee’s district during the month and recommended patients as suitable for treatment from the following districts: — Southland, South Otago and Vincent two each, South Canterbury, Waitaki and Wallace one each. ,■ The secretary reported that at date of meeting the following boards had patients in the institution: —South Canterbury 25, Southland 47, Ashburton 10, Waitaki 11, South Otago 6, Wallace 5, Vincent 7, Maniototo 4—a total of 115. Of that number 31 had been under treatment for more than 12 months. Since the previous meeting 11 patients from four districts had been discharged. He submitted a waiting list of 19 males and four females, a total, of 23, from five districts, and stated that arrangements had been made for the immediate admission of three of that number. There were no vacant beds for niajgs in the sanatorium at present, although there were a few vacancies for females.

The farm manager (Mr B. Ritchie) submitted his usual return of milk and meat supplied to the sanitorium and farm during October. The secretary reported having received during the month account sales for skins, hides, and pigs totalling £l2B 19s 6d. Mb Lewis, on behalf of the Farm Committee, reported that 1816 sheep had been shorn. The clip was a good one, there being 25 bales. During the month 19 bullocks bad been purchased and 20 pigs sold. The leak in the storage darn Bad now being stopped and there was plenty of water available for power, irrigation and other purposes. All the stock was looking exceptionally well. —The report was received and certain matters in connection with the bowling green were left in the hands of the secretary for attention. The Director-general of Health GDr M. H. Watt) advised that the plant and specifications for the farm manager’s house had been received and would bo dealt with, as soon as possible. As it is necessary to have this house erected before the season is too far advanced, the secretary was directed to urge the department to expedite the matter. The secretary was instructed to purchase certain equipment required for the hydro ejectric generating nlant, and it was decided to have some of the large pipes used on the main pipe line, which were starting to corrode, lined with concrete. ,

The treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) submitted a return of the committee’s finances for the seven months ended October 31, which showed for the period a slight fall in the estimated maintenance receipts and a slight increase in the actual maintenance expenditure necessitating a temporary overdraft at the bank, which latter had been approved of by the Department of Health.

Owing to some slight alteration in the personnel of the committee the usual resolution directing the bank to accept the signature of the treasurer and any two members of the present committee to cheques and documents was adopted. Accounts and salaries totalling £1372 I9s Id were examined and passed for payment. Nine applications were received for tho position of matron, rendered vacant by the resignation of Miss Shepherd. Tha committee selected three names for further inquiry by the chairman, medical superintendent, and secretary before submitting the final selection to the Department of Health for its approval. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee at Waipiata on January 29. the Southland representative. Mr Golden, and the secretary being authorised to pay the December salaries and accounts.

Before the adjournment the chairman conveyed to members the usual season’s compliments, and asked the secretary to conyey to the office and institutional staffe similar sentiments from the committee