SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 7

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

LOAN OF £45,000 APPROVED The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held at Balclutha on Tuesday, when there were present: Messrs W. Sutherland (chairman), A. T. Harris, J. W. Fenton. Adam King. A. V. King, L. W. Potter. D. McGregor, J. R. Copland, R. G. Cullen, J. Burnett, and H. A. Brough. The superintendent (Dr D. M. Frengley) reported as follows for January, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses:—Balclutha Hospital: Admissions 112 (112), discharges 86 (110), remaining in 73 (62). X-ray out-patients 71 (41), massage department 109 (28), deaths 5 (5). Milton Hospital: Admissions 24 (25), discharges 23 (14), remaining in 13 (19). Owaka Hospital: Admissions 23 (24), discharges 20 (10), remaining in 20 (21). Kaitangata Hospital: Admissions 12 (8), discharges 12 (6), remaining in 4 (4), outpatients 23 (nil).'

The secretary reported receipts for the month at £2BOB 16s 3d and expenditure at £3168 12s lOd, including Balclutha Hospital £1921 8s lid, Milton Hospital £303 4s 2d, Owaka Hospital £233 5s lid, Kaitangata Hospital £147 19s 9d. The report was adopted and accounts amounting to £3421 3s 3d passed for payment. Correspondence

Tlie Director-general of Health advised that the dates for the proposed tuberculosis conference at Dunedin had been altered to March 7 and 10. Messrs Mandeno and Fraser, architects, forwarded plans and specifications for (1) extensions to nurses' dining room; and (2) extensions to boiler house.—The chairman said the plans were quite satisfactory.—Mr A. V King said the Works Committee should see they were not too elaborate. —It was decided to approve the plans and specifications, and to forward them to Wellington. The proposal to borrow the sum of £45,000 for alterations and extensions ar. Balclutha and Owaka Hospitals was again before the board, and was finally approved.—The clerk of the Clutha County Council advised that the council had decided that it had no objection to the raising of the loan.—The clerk of the Baiclutha Borough Council wrote stating that the council had merely received the letter for the board on the subject.—The Bruce Council clrek advised that his council had passed a resolution to the effect that any portion of the £45.000 loan scheme not definitely committed at this stage should be held in abeyance until after the local body elections in May next, and also that it be a recommendation to the board that it should convene a meeting of the interested bodies in the board's area to discuss proposals for the erection of an old people's home, independent of the hospital.—The Milton Borough Council clerk wrote stating that his council had resolved that buildings or extensions, except those of extreme urgency, should not be undertaken during the war period, when shortages and increased costs of all material must materially increase such costs.—lt was decided. on the motion of Mr Harris, seconded bv Mr Brough, that the programme be carried out as originally designed. An amendment, moved by Mr McGregor and seconded by Mr Fenton—“That the portion of the proposed loan to which the board was not definitely committed be held over till after the local body elections ” —was defeated, only the mover and the seconder voting for it.—Mr Fenton then moved, in accordance with notice—

“ That the proposed loan of £45,000 be reduced by deleting additions to the Owaka Hospital (£8600). chronic ward, Balclutha Hospital (£18,500), equipment for both (£1500). making the amount of the loan £16,400.” This was seconded byMr McGregor and was lost by nine votes to two.