WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 44

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the committee of tile \V aipiata Sanatorium was held in Dunedin on Tuesday. There were present j. Matheson (chairman), Rev. T. W. Potts, Hon. K. Scott, Messrs H. A. Dovey, J. Ritchie. A. S. Malcolm, S. Fowles, and Dr MTvibibn (representing the Health Department). Leave of absence was granted Mr C. Reid (Ashburton). A letter from the Secretary to the Minister of Health asking for a subsidy equal to £2 for £1 on capital expenditure at Waipiata was approved.—This was the outcome of a promise made Dy the Minister to representations of the committee when it was urged that, to equalise matters as between the boards of the North and South Islands, special consideration should be given to the Associated Boards engaged in establishing the Waipiata institution. 'The Minister of health forwarded consent to the committee’s contract of £360 for the electrical wiring of buildings. The Architect (Mr E. R. Wilson) reported on the general progress of tlie building and other operations, and the question of sewerage treatment. —The system to be adopted was left in the hands of the chairman and architect, with power to act. The architect estimates that the Nurses’ gome will be ready for occupation in about 1C weeks’ time. and. considering the difficulty in obtaining tradesmen, fair progress has been made with the work oil the other buildings. In connection with ihe proposed hydroelectric scheme for generating power and light for the institution, the Health Department forwarded a report from its consulting engineer (Mr J. H. Anderson) endorsing the No. 2 scheme submitted by Mr A. P. Aldridge, electrical engineer, providing for a general hydro-electric scheme and a standby oil engine plant at an estimated cost of £66So.—The committee decided that Mr Aldridge be asked to prepare plans and specifications of the scheme for submission to tlie committee and the department with a view to inviting tenders for the work, the secretary to arrange with Mr Aldridge regarding fees. It was decided to hold over the construction of an asphalt lawn tennis court until the spring. The question of planting shelter and fruit trees was left in the hands of Messrs Ritchie and Scott to confer with the medical superintendent. The Medical Superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) reported that at the beginning of April there were 16 patients in the institution, one being admitted and two being disoharged, leaving 15 on May 1. He stated that the condition of the. patients was very satisfactory. The questions of furnishings for the Nurses’ Home and the indenting of crockery were left in the hands of the chairman and secretary to confer with the medical superintendent and matron. The matter of drafting regulations regarding the medical superintendent’s services being available in a consulting capacity was left in the hands of Dr Kidd and the secretary to submit to a later meeting. The following boards forwarded applications for the admission of patients :—Southland. three; South Canterbury, two; Ashburton, one; Vincent, one. It was decided to admit a patient from Southland aiicl one from Ashburton, the others being left on the waiting list for admission when beds are available. The Treasurer reported that from April 1 to date ihe committee’s receipts were £5715 11 6d; payments—maintenance, £346

Us sd ; capital, £2723 10s; leaving a credit balance to date of £5712 8s sd.—The report was adopted, and the action of the chairman and secretary in paying the April accounts, totalling £3070 15s sd, was approved.—Accounts totalling £398 10s 6d were passed for payment. Ihe Secretary reported that members of the present committee would go out of office in June, and in terms of the constitutian he was directed to advise the different boards to nominate representatives for the ensuing 12 months.