WELL-EARNED GRATITUDE.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 109, 25 May 1937, Page 6

WELL-EARNED GRATITUDE.

•It will be with the greatest satisfaction that the people of Hastings and the suxrounding districts learn to-day that the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board has decided to appoint a resident surgeon to the Soldiers ' Memorial Hospital. With such an appointment and the'provision also of an operating Toom with adequate equipment, this institution, established so largely by their own efforts and the fine benevolencies of some among them, will now be something upon which they may look with a good degreo of pride. But along with this there cannot but bo a strong feeling of gratitude to the honorary medical and aurgical ktaff whose, members have for so many years given gratuitous services to keep the institution going. ( As the chairman and other members of the Board were eager to acknowledge, those services have been rendered with a devotion and at a sacrifice that very few probably realise. Besides regular attendunces. the honorary staff have had to hold themseives ready for all the many emergency cases fhat have occurred, those arising from the disastrous earthquake among them. The calls upon them have indeed been such that rarely have they been able to call their time their own. For all this so willing and so quiet seryice not only the patients but also tho whole community should be profoundly thjankful. And through it all there is ready testimony to show that, so far as concferned medical and surgical skill and attention, no complaint could be made as to the fulfil. ment of the hospitai's purposes under conditions that plaeed a rreat strain not only upon the honorary staff themseives but also upOn their own private appliattces. It is gratifying to note that the appointment of a resident surgeon has been made with all good will and in recognition of an ur_ i genc wantj and also that the appointee is altogether aeceptable not only to the Board but also to tho honorary staff with whom he will have to work. Thus the promise is that this fine institution will now be in a favourable position to meet all reasonable requirements, at any rate for some years to come. But, while this may be said as to the future, Hastings should never forget the deep debt of gratitude it owes to those who so deyotedly saw its hospital through the. first years of stress and trouble.