WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 14

WAIMATE

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS MEETING OF COMMITTEE A meeting of the Waimate Hospital Committee of Management was held on Wednesday night when there were present.—Messrs J. I. Hay man (chairman), J. T. Hay, J. Dempsey, F. Akhurst, Alan Grant. G. J. Shackleton. H. J. Dash and Captain Hennessy.

Captain Hennessy was welcomed by the chairman on his return to the committee table after his trip to England. The chairman’s statement showed that receipts for October amounted to £lOl/9/7, and accounts presented for payment that day totalled £502 87. For November, the receipts amounted to £122/4/-, and accounts presented for payment amounted to £447 14 TO.

The return of patients showed that during November a total of 58 males and 48 females had been treated (in October 57 males and 51 females). At the beginning of the month there had been 27 males and 27 females in hospital (25 and 17 in October), and during the month 31 males and 21 females had been admitted (32 and 34 in October! and 40 males and 30 females had been discharged (30 and 34 in October), leaving 18 males and 18 females still in the institution (27 and 27 in October!. The collective days’ stay was 1356 in November and 1423 in October making the average number of occupied beds per day 42.2 and 45.9. The collective days’ stay for the eight months to November was 10.610 days making the average number of occupied beds per day 43.5. The resignations of Nurses Finn and Barbour were accepted and it was decided to send them letters of appreciation for services rendered.

Superintendent’s Report. The Medical Superintendent (Dr T. W. Wylie) reported that Sister Hunt and Nurses Blair, Thompson, Bishop. Tonkin and Barbour were sitting State examinations. Staff Nurse Wellwood w r as on annual leave. Nurses Lund and Hossack had completed relieving duty and had left the hospital. The reason for extra nurses had been that several nurses had been ill, and also a case had needed day and night special duty. Nurses Mannix and Kempthorne were returning to Timaru and would be replaced by Nurses Blair. Tonkin and Bishop. The matron wished to take maternity training at Timaru for six months, and it was recommended that permission be granted, and it was recommended that Nurse Pryor be appointed acting matron for that period. Nurse Conlin wished to have six months’ leave to take a post-graduate course. It was desired that some easy chairs be provided for the wards for the benefit of patients not long out of bed. He had looked into the milk collection at the hospital, and he was of the opinion that everything was very clean, but he thought the storage could be improved. He had been informed that it took four hours every day for a man to keep down the tremendous area of grass round the institution, and it was suggested that when the estimates were considered next year, the purchase of a motor mower should oe given consideration. The matron was granted leave, as was also Nurse Conlon and Nurse Pryor was approved for the position of acting matron. The report was adopted, and Dr Pitts was appointed superintendent for the ensuing term.

General. For the House Committee. Mr Hay reported that seven pigs had been sold for £l6, 2- and five for £l2 10 -. The County Council had repaired the groyne which had been damaged by the flood. Twelve new chairs were required for the wards, and various old ones could be repaired. Mr Dempsey said that the provision of the chairs for the wards was desirable especially from the point of view of visitors. The report was adopted.

Mr Grant said he thought it would be worth while for the hospital to breed its own pigs, and the matter was held over for full investigation. The financial statement showed that maintenance during the eight months to November 30, cost £4342 4/- compared with an estimate of £4438. Receipts for the period amounted to £lOls. 4 3 against an estimate of £1033. Mr Dash, for the Finance Committee, said the receipts were rather disappointing, and a further batch of accounts had been placed in the hands of the solicitor for collection. The steward was granted permission to make the usual arrangements for Christmas cheer at the hospital. The steward reported that assistance covering the usual cases granted during October amounted to £32 8 10, and during November £34 7/SWIMMING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Waimate Amateur Swimming Club was held on Wednesday night in the Borough Council Chambers, when the retiring president (Mr A. W. Sawell) presided over an attendance of about 30. The annual report stated that the club was in the fortunate position of having 30 senior. 10 junior and eight primary school financial members, besides having 42 members of the primary school who gained club certificates for swimming 50 yards or over, which entitled them to membership till the end of the season. During the year three very successful carnivals were held for club members only with the idea of encouraging local swimmers. The support from the public was splendid, as the gate takings amounted to more than £l3, practically the whole of which being paid out in trophies. The club dance had been ! held, but owing to lack of support from the swimmers and to inclement weather it had resulted in a loss of £5. Mr W. D. Moss, the secretary, had been transferred and members met to make a small presentation to him in recognition of his services to the club In order to foster swimming among school pupil.;, certificates had been printed for the primary school pupils who i co 'd swim 50 yards or more, and a j donation of £2 2- was made to tin * High School towards the ptu a swimming cup. The year had commenced with a credit of £8 18 8 and it closed with a credit of £2 10 10. the debit on the ! year being due largely to the loss on j the dance, the large sum expended on ! trophies, and other items which will i not be recurring In conclusion, the j committee thanked all those who had j acted as officials at the club carnivals, j the public for its support, the Borough j Council for the use of the chambers [ t Press for publicity and all those wtm assisted in any way to make the season so highly successful. 'Hie election of officers resulted President M I dent. Mr A. Wlsntsky; .secretary and 1 treasurer. Mr G Wilce: club captain Mr S. Kirkpatrick; eomnutt* >•. Mr . H G dc Tourettes. E K. Chapman. O M tative from the High School. . of the club.—Messrs H G. de Tourettes. E R Chapman C Coat* .. H Garland E Hicks and M D. and E. Andrews.