LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 63, 8 December 1920, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HOSPITAL REFORM Sir,—Since its beginning, nearly two years ago, I have been very interested in tho controversy on hospital reform, and now would like to make a few remarks ako. Mr. Chapman's reply to Dr. Paget's letter was clearly that of a person misinformed. No comment is necessary on tho statement that the eight hours' duty is not a hard one. Everyone knows that the work is both hard and. tiring, calling for much patience and endurance. Also if Mr. Chapman would only Tead the book of rules supplied by the Wellington Hospital to its staff, and which he obviously has not done 60 far, he will find "that tho matron may increase the hours of duty at her discretion,"' and this is done frequently, especially in tho eye ward and the children's surgical ward, whero the. nfternoon nurses are, often on duty all the mornings at operations. We all know that the women in English hospitals work longer liours, but they have some time off'per month. Anyhow, it is quite beside the point what hours tlft nurses work in England or Timbucloo—the nurses at tho Wellington Hospital are the ones under discussion. Mi'i Chapman ends his letter with a quotation' of salarias paid. They are paid only conditionally, and a general muddle is the result. That the medical superintendent • is likewise misinformed is shown by his letter. Loyalty to one's training school < is certainly necessary, but make that , training school worthv, and there will be no lack of loyalty.—T am, etc.. TRAINED NURSE. FRANCE AND FROZEN" MEAT • Sir,—The remarks of Mr. .T. C. Cooper in his address to farmers at Masterton,, as reported l in your issue of December' G, are interesting and enlightening. One is glad to note that Mr. Cooper's observations lead him to conclude that good times are ahead for producers in this country. In my opinion, Mr. Cooper takes an unduly pessimistic view of tho future of France, and in particular I would question the correctness of his statement that Franco will never be a market for cur produce. Tho conditions imposed by Hie war bare broken down the former antipathy which tho French had towards frozen meat. The French are spending seven and a half million pounds in the construction of cool storage, evidently with the intention of establishing a Irnde in frozen produce; and although the French, (habitually consume less meat per head than the British, the opportunity to obtain meat at reasonable prices will at once appeal to their .na.ti.vo eoonomic instincts. The frozen meat trade- will pass to tho United States and Argentina unless we move to develop it for the benefit of the New Zealand producer. It has been said' that our fat mutton and lamb would not find favour with the French. This I think is a mistake. There nre no better judges of quality, and they will pay for it, provided facilities to obtain such supplies are rendered available. The laws governing the import of frozen meat into France have hitherto made it impossible to develop this trade, but this is a matter for international re-' adjustment. One of the partners in a big firm of importers at Havre informed me that in' his opinion tho present was an excellent opportunity for the cultivation of trade relations between New Zealand and France. In, 1919, in a great woollen factory at Beauvois, I myself saw the ravages committed by the Germans in their wilful destruction of hundreds of looms. In tho course of conversation with one of tho directors, he informed me that theso looms were of an obsolete pattern, and that consequently the damage was not as serious an it appeared at first sight, since new machinery was on order. He expected to have the looms working again in six months. As to the wine trade, relatively little damngo has been done to tho vineyards, and in the past France has not bcon able to supply sufficient wine for consumption throughout the world. Much of the light wine purporting to come from France was manufactured for export largely from Germany. Those who discredit the recuperativo powers of the French, should turn to the pages of history for"a denial of such assertions. Among financiers the French can claim some of tho most eminent; Personally I believe that France will, beforo long, recover, and that French markets, if exploited, would afford a profitable avenue of trade. The present difficulties in regard to credits, though considerable, need not necessarily prove iusuper-able.-I am, etc, wir i LA FRANCE." Wellington, December 7, 1920.