WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 24

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Wiapiata Sanatorium Committee was held in Dunedin on Tuesday last, and attended by Mr J. Matheson, the Rev. T. W. Potts, Messrs W. Bryant, A. Fraser, J. Ritchie, J. Horrell, E. Morgan, and J. Cumming. Dr R. A. Shore (medical Officer of Health) represented the department. On the motion of Mr Potts, seconded by Mr Ritchie, Mr John Matheson was reelected chairman, all the members present speaking in most appreciative terms of the valuable services Mr Matheson had sendered to the associated boards in connection with the establishment of the Waipiata Sanatorium. Leave of absence was granted to Mr F. W. Watt (Ashburton), and the Standing Orders were suspended to allow Mr W. Bryant to act in"his place on behalf of the Ashburton Board. The Hon. R. Scott wrote thanking the committee for its resolution of appreciation adopted at last meeting on his retirement from the committee, and especially for having appointed him a member of the Farm Committee In an advisory capacity. Letters were received from the different boards regarding the admission of patients, and the question of re-examination by the medical superintendent of those who bad been on the waiting list for some time. In connection with the matter of bringing the sanatorium staff under the provisions of the Hospital Employees’ Superannuation, the secretary reported that as the committee was not recognised as a hospital board within the meaning of the National Provident Amendment Act, the only way of handling this matter would be through the Maniototo Hospital Board, in which the Sanatorium property is vested. This procedure, however, was inconvenient and caused delay in the adjustment of staff payments, etc., and on the motion of Mr Potts, seconded by Mr Morgan, the secretary was directed to communicate with the National Provident Fuud Beard as to whether it would not be possible for the committee, with the approval of the Maniototo Board, handling the matter direct with the superintendent of the National Provident Fund. The Medical Superintendent (Dr Kidd) reported that on June 1 there were *ifl patients in the institution, all of whom, with the exception of two (whose condition was unchanged) were either doing well cr improving. He submitted the usual weather report for the month of May. He advised that owing to the completion of the additional patients’ accommodation he could now provide for 80 patients, and asked that a fresh apportionment of this number be made amongst the contributory .boards. The matter of obtaining pensions for soldier patient# in the institution and P©y ment for their maintenace therein was left with the ; ndividual boards to co-operate with the different patriotic associations m their respective districts, with a view to taking up the cases of these men with the Pensions Department. , The Secretary reported that there were 25 .patients on the waiting list, and at date there were 74 patients (33 males and 41 females) in the institution •• I 0 South Canterbury 22, Southland 23, Ashburton 12. Waitaki 8, South Otago 5, Wallace I, Maniototo 2 and 1 private patient. He submitted a fresh apportionment of beds on the basis of 80 beds as follows:-—South Canterbury 23 Southland 23, Ashburton 13, Waitaki 7, South Otago 6, Wallace 4, Vincent 2, and Maniototo 2. Hie Architect reported that Mr M Lallan, builder, had practically completed his contract for the erection of additional accommodation and enclosed a P BM certificate for £484. He advised that he was going into the estimates of the additional accommodation required for the nursing and domestic staff, and Additions to patients dining rooms; which would be submitted to next meeting. He also reported in connection with the working of the sewage treatment tanks. The report was adopted and payment to the contractors was authorised. In connection with the sewage treatment tanks Dr Shore reported that, as the result of inspection, it appeared that considerable alteration would be required in working of the tanks as, owing to the great increase of the institution the original tanks wero not large enough to handle the sewage properly. He had submitted a report on the matter to the department in Wellington. Mr A. P. Aldridge, consulting fegineer, reported on the trouble with the pipe line and breakdown to the oil engine plant, and

in this connection Mr Ritchie stated he had interviewed Mr Aldridge since last meeting and arranged for him to be present at the committee meeting, but owing to indisposition he had not been able to do so.—Members of committee commented adversely on th delay and expense incurred in getting the hydro-electric plant into operatipn, and Messrs Ritchie and Morgan were appointed a sub-committee to interview Mr Aldridge the following day and arrange for him to endeavour to have the whole of this work completed as soon as possible. The Hon. R. Scott submitted a report on the work of the farm, and suggested an addidtional clause in connection with the farm manager’s duties.—ln connection with the purchase of a property from Mr Roberts for the accommodation of farm assistants, the secretary reported that he had been in communication with Messrs Adams Bros., solicitors, regarding the transfer, and there had been some tittle delay in the matter of looking into the titles and tenures of some of the sections.—lt was decided that repairs and alterations to the house as suggested by Mr Scott be attended to as soon as the matter of the purchase and transfer of the property from Mr Roberts to the Maniototo Hospital Board had been finalised. In connection with Mr Scott’s suggestion that the Farm Committee should pay monthly visits to the institution with a view to conferring with the farm manager, it was pointed out that owing to Messrs Ritchie and Morgan living some considerable distance from the farm and the loss of time thus involved these two members might visit the farm for this purpose the day before the committee’s monthly meeting. Carried. On the recommendation of Mr Ritchie the allocation of the expenditure incurred on the main water race as between the hydro electric scheme, the Sanatorium, and the farm be left in the hands of the Farm Committee and secretary to adjust. The Treasurer reported that the balance at the Bank of New Zealand. Invercargill, was £3648 3o 3d. Accounts and salaries totalling £2021 8s 8d were passed for payment. On the motion of Mr Ritchie it was agreed “That subject to the approval of the Southland Hospital Board. Mr Pryde be re-appointed secretary and treasurer for a further term.”