HOSPITAL FARM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18955, 4 March 1936, Page 4

HOSPITAL FARM

PLANS FOR LEASE SURPRISE EXPRESSED FIRST CHAIRMAN'S VIEW EARLY FINANCIAL RESULTS The decision of the Cook Hospital Board to lease its farm to private interests has aroused a discussion which was surpassed only by that which occurred at the time the board decided to purchase the property. Surprise at the board's decision was expressed to-day by the fust chairman of the farm committee, Mr. W. .1. McCliskie. who considered that the farm was a good financial proposition .for the board.

Mr. McCliskie was chairman of the farm committee for the first seven years, from 1020 to 1027. He said thai at. the time of purchase the board was more than justiliod in its action, in view of the high juices charged for farm products. As an instance, he said that milk during the three seasons before its purchase could not be secured below L's (id a gallon for winter supplies, and all other farm products were correspondingly dear. DO AX ACRE RETURN Outside interests considered the project .sound at the time, and shortly after the board had taken over Hie property and stocked it, an offer was received from it prominent man to buy the property and stock at the price the hoard had paid.

At about that, time, Mr. McCliskie added, other 'hospital boards had established their own farms. The New Plymouth board had just shown a prolit'of £l5O on the year's working, and the Hawera board was contemplating purchasing a property. Shortly after the start the farm was earning a gross return of £2O an acre, and this increased to over X.'.>o an acre a few years later. That was before the prices of farm produets fell so disastrously, and he was unable to say what the gross return was at present, but he considered there should be no reason why t'he farm could not justify its existence still.

On the board's own annual figures, the farm was paying a dividend through some of the worst slump years, Mr. McCliskie added. After taking into account sales of supplies to the hospital and to outside sources, and making provision for all costs, including depreciation, the farm showed a profit of £307 15s lOd in 1929-30. SLUMP PROFITS By J 931-32 this profit had been more than halved, at £IBB 8s 9d, but even at that figure there was a satisfactory surplus, considering the severe economic conditions. In 1932-33 the profit, according to the board's own figures, had increased to £374 2s 4d. Regarding the position since then, Mr. McCliskie said that he had only the board's monthly returns, but from the surpluses of income over expenditure shown by the board each anontli, as published, there should have been profits of £175 and £287 during the years ended March 31, 1934, and 193f> respectively. - ;•;•. -.- A

The fiiriii was one of 70 acres, ami although the cost of purchase was regarded ns high, it was thought, at the time to be well worth the money to provide the hospital with a satisfactory milk supply. Even at the high price paid, Mr, McCliskie said, tho farm more than justified itself, and was doing so to-day.

The present .manager, Mr. A. Marsh, had been on the farm for nine or ten years, and had proved a most able man, Air. McOliskie concluded. Mr. Marsh's experience and ability had been a big factor in bringing the farm up lo Ihe high level of production it had reached to-day.