HAWERA HOSPITAL FARM

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1933, Page 8

HAWERA HOSPITAL FARM

MANAGER’S SALARY REDUCED.

ROUTINE BUSINESS OF BOARD. The Hawera Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday decided to adopt a recommendation of the farm committee to retain the hospital farm but to reduce the manager’s salary. Discussion on this was held over from the previous meeting. A further statement on the farm account was produced by Mr. F. Gillanders. This showed that last year a profit of £125 18s 4d was shown. It had been contended that milk and cream was shown too highly, but reducing the charge to a lower basis the farm still showed a profit of £2l Is Id. If the property were leased it would produce £77 in rent but the board would have to pay £6O interest, £ll rates and £1 13s 2d insurance, leaving a profit of £4 8s lOd. For this was the board prepared to sacrifice its own supply of fresh milk and cream and to use bacon and pork much inferior to its own product? .In addition the board would lose £6 from the sale of its rubbish to the farm. The retention of the farm was supported by members, but there was divergence of opinion as to the manager’s salary. The committee’s recommendation was carried by a bare majority, the discussion being on the lines of that at the previous meeting. The medical superintendent, Dr. J. Caimey, reported that there were 59 patients in hospital at the beginning of November and 48 at the end, 83 being admitted during the month and 94 leaving. The average of occupied beds in November was 57.5. The average of occupied beds for eight months of the year was 60.6, as against 65.4 in the same period last year. The average of occupied beds to each of the nursing staff was 1.|9. In the' X-ray department 16 hospital and 13 private cases had been dealt with, and in the physio-therapeutic department 326 treatments had been given. In the out-patients’ department 120 patients had been attended. Mr. P. Rastall reported that there were 18 men in the old people’s home. Thanks for donations were due to the Rev. H. W. James, Toe H and Mrs. Lovell.

The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board advised that it required future hospital final examinations to be conducted by medical practitioners who had no part in the training of the nurses. Dr. Caimey pointed out that this was contrary to the practice in other training courses and was not in his opinion a good idea. There were present at the meeting Messrs. J. S. McKay (chairman), W. G. Simpson, S. J. Bennett, E. A. Washer, T. A. Winks, A. L. Campbell, A. G. Larcom, F. Gillanders and > Dr. T. H. A. Valintine.