SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 8

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held on the 12th, there being present—Messrs A. North (chairman), H. S. Malcolm, Jaspar Clark, J. W. Fenton, H. Sinison, H. Driver, A. Rennie, li. King, J. Allan, and J. Camming. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary of the Department of Health, in reply to a communication from the board, advised that, the chairman having sought re-election as a representative of a contributing local authority in the usual course and being so elected, there was no break in his office as a- member of the board, and consequently no break in his office as chairman. He therefore, if appointed chairman of the hoard last year, continued as chairman until the expiration of his term of two years, which would expire in the ordinary course of events in 1924.—The letter was “received,” it being decided that Mr North should occupy the chair for another year after he had offered to vacate it if such was the wish of the board. The Mat ron of the Kaitangata Cottage Hospital reported that three cases were admitted and one discharged during May. Five patients remained.---Adopted. The S ecrctary of the Otago Board notified that 32 cases from the South Otago Board's district were in the Otago Board's institution on June I.—Received.

The Town Clerk, Kaitangata, wrote notifying that the council recommended the Mayor (Mr Robert Aitchison) and Cr James Donaldson to act on the local committee of the Kaitangata Cottage Hospital.—The Kaitangata and District Miners’ Benefit Society recommended Messrs A. O. M‘Lelland and W. Proctor as representatives of the society on the committee, and the Miners’ Union recommended Messrs John Ramsden and Robert Penman as representatives of the union.—Tlie Bruce County Council recommended Cr A. Renton. —Approved. The Clerk of the Ciutha County Council advised that the council had decided to accept the board’s offer to pay half cost

of grading and metalling the road to the Owaka Hospital site. —Received. The Secretary of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee advised that the board’s letter of the 17th ult. had been dealt with as follows: —Consideration of the provision of a receiving station for patients held over until replies had been received from the other associated boards’ that had been communicated with on the same subject ; the committee could not agree to the suggestion to allow members of associated boards who are not members of the committee to take part in its discussions ; the best advice in connection with electrical matters was at the disposal of the committee ; the architect had made special provision for the protecof water pipes from frost. —Received. Writing in regard to tile board’s estimates for 1923-24, the Director-General of Health pointed out that, owing to an increase in the net estimated maintenance requirements, the subsidy made for maintenance purposes had dropped from 17s 3d to 15s 3d in the £. It would appear, therethat the board’s net requirements should be apportioned as follows: —Levy for maintenance purposes, £5283 13s 9d ; subsidy thereon at 15s 3d, £4028 16s 3d; total, £9312 10s.—The recommendation was agreed to after the secretary had made an explanation. Reporting on June 9, Messrs Mason and Wales, the board’s architects, wrote that they had inspected the buildings at Owaka and Milton. At Milton the bricklayers had started work, but as it was impossible to obtain the number required progress would be slow. At Owaka the bricklayers had started, but required to cease, as the kauri door-frames were not ready. They were expected to be able to begin on June 9. Adopted.—ln connection with an earlier report, it was decided that Dr M’Kibbin, District Health Officer, should be asked to consult with the architects regarding drainage at the Milton Hospital.. THE KAITANGATA HOSPITAL. The Town Clerk, Kaitangata, wrote that his council had instructed him to inquire what had been done by the board to give effect to the requests of a deputation that

had some time ago asked for a maternity ward in the hospital at Kaitangata. Mr Fenton was informed that £ISOO was the smallest amount at which the extra accommodation could be provided. Mr Fenton asked if the board considered that Kaitangata did not need a maternity ward ? The Chairman: It considered that other requirements were more urgent. Mr Fenton said that the hospital had been erected by the workers at Kaitangata and the late Mr Robert Lee. When the ward was occupied by a male patient there was no accommodation for a female, and peoplcconsequently had to go to Dunedin. There were occasions on which the maid had had to give up her bed to people “reeking with diseases,” such as T.B. Mr Fenton proceeded to deal with the commitments of the board in connection with the erection of hospitals at other places, and claimed that his district was not being treated fairly. He moved —“That the addition of a females’ ward be made to the Kaitangata Hospital.” Mr Gumming said that it w 7 as only “beating the air” to bring the matter up for 12 months, as the estimates had been forwarded to Wellington. Mr Clark said that there was a hospital in Kaitangata but nothing in the other districts. It w’as a pity that there w r as not a maternity hospital in Kaitangata, as the board might have made arrangements to subsidise it. Mr Driver remarked that the board had turned down the request in the meantime because Kaitangata would be. within a quarter of an hour’s motor journey of the base hospital at Balclutha when it was erected. The Chairman suggested that Mr Fenton should allow the matter to stand over for 12 months. There was no seconder to Mr Fenton’s motion, and the communication w 7 as “received” after some further discussion. LOAN MONEYS. The Milton Borough Council wrote, through the town clerk, that it approved of the proposal to repay the board’s loan at the rate of £2OOO per annum, commencing

in 1926, and involving an extra annual charge of £62 on the Milton Borough. Mr Clark asked if there was any idea as to how much more it would be necessary to borrow, because it would bo impossible to pay the whole amount off in 16 years. The Clerk stated that unless the estimates for erecting the buildings were reduced it wotild be necessary to borrow another £15,000. When the hospitals were built the capital expenditure would be practically finished and repayments would then be started. There would be a £ for £ subsidy on all actual repayments. Mr Clark held that if another £15,000 was going to be raised its repayment should, be spread over a more lengthy period than the 16 years. There were a lot of struggling settlers to be considered.. The Chairman remarked that the payment of £1250 per annum to the Otago Board for the use of its institutions would cease, and that devoted to repayment would represent £2500 with the subsidy. Mr Clark was anxious that the levies should be kept as low as possible. They did not want to crush the life out of the local bodies. Mr Malcolm declared that Mr Clark was not the only one solicitous for the interests of the ratepayers. All members of the board were anxious to keep down the levies, and they had been kept down to an astonishing extent. But the proposals made were really in the interests of the ratepayers, for, if the repayment was spread over a long period, the interest on the sinking fund would amount to a large sum. And for that interest the ratepayers were getting nothing. Mr Malcolm added that “hours and hours and hours” of time had been given to the financial position, and they would be pleased if any member could make a suggestion. This was an extraordinary year, but the levy was less than a third of a penny in the £, and the Finance Committee was looking forward to the time when it would be possible to reduce it. Tlie letter was “received.”