HOSPITAL BOARD BEQUEST

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD BEQUEST

QUESTION OF ITS DISPOSAL.

DIFFERENT SCHEMES SUGGESTED.

The Stratford Hospital Board is still undecided as to the manner in which it will dispose of the bequest of £250 left by the late Mr. C. Sanders, New Plymouth. At the last meeting, of the board a sub-committee was appointed to consider a number of suggestions, and the report of . the committee was received at the board meeting yesterday. The recommendations of the committee were strongly opposed by Messrs L. Bunn and J. Cormick on the grounds that more than the £lOO proposed should be set aside for the purchase of an ambulance. They' objected to a motion that the report be adopted and moved an amendment, but after it was pointed out that two members of the board were absent the matter was deferred till the next meeting. ‘ . The committee’s recommendations were: (1) That £lOO be set aside towards the purchase of an ambulance; the balance should be provided by the public of Stratford and district. (2) That £5O be spent on the erection of gate pillars as a permanent memory to the donor. (3) That £25 be. devoted to renovation of the furniture in the nurses’ home. The balance of £175 should be held against possible contingencies. Mr. Bunn said it was of no use buying an ambulance unless a new one was bought. Such a vehicle would cost about £4OO and it would be unfair to ask the public to subscribe the difference between the £lOO and the total cost. Most of the bequest should go into an ambulance fund. At the present time the money should not be spent on unnecessary matters. • Of course the board had not received the money yet and it might be some time before it was received, Mr. <3. P. Harkness said. ■

Mr. Cormick opposed the spending of money on purely ornamental work. A plate could be placed on the ambulance bearing Mr. Sanders’ name, he said.

Mr. Bunn said he would not support the purchase of a second-hand vehicle and would rather see the greater part of the amount devoted towards the purchase of a new ambulance.

Mr. Cormick expressed similar views. The. chairmain moved that the report of the committee be adopted. Mrs. Phillips seconded. Mr. Bunn moved and Mrs. Shannon seconded an amendment that £2OO be set aside for the purchase of an ambulance. “If the report is adopted you have disposed of the money before you have got it,” Mr. Bunn said. Mr. Harkness: Your amendment amounts to the same thing. Mr. Bunn: I had to move to block the adoption. It was pointed out that two members were absent and it was agreed to defer further discussion to the next meeting. Messrs Kleeman and Bishop confirmed their statement to the chairman that should the board decide to purchase an ambulance the firm would be prepared to store it and supply a driver at any time free of cost. Thanks were passed to the firm for its offer. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. BUSINESS OF THE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held yesterday, when the chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy) presided. Mesdames D. Shannon and M. T. Phillips and Messrs G. P. Harkness, L. Bunn and J. Cormick were present. The matron (Mrs. J. Hunt) reported that Nurses D. Workman, M. Latham and A. Byrne passed the State maternity examination. The district nurse at Whangamomona (Miss R, McCarroll) reported that there were 20 visits during the month, 14 patients and two transfers to hospital. The report for May of the Tangarakau Medical Association showed one birth, seven visits to the doctor and 67 consultations. In June there were 15 visits and 51 consultations, and one patient was sent to hospital. The report of the medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) stated: _ Patients admitted during the month 52, discharged 60, died 1, remaining 40, outpatients attended 8, admissions to maternity ward 18, births 19, visits to ante-natal clinic 75, admissions to isolation ward 5, remaining 2, operations 12. Nurse Birss was temporarily appointed to take charge at Tangarakau owing to the death of Dr. J. C. Smith.