WASHING BY MACHINERY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5287, 15 June 1928, Page 4

WASHING BY MACHINERY

WEAK AND TEAH OF GARMENTS. POSITION AT THAMES HOSPITAL A little over twelve months ago the Thames Hospital Board erected and equipped a modern steam laundry at a. cost of £4OOO, but from the time the machinery was put into operation 1 there has been trouble. That the la,unc|ry work i& still being carried on with unsatisfactory results was insstaneed by Mr C. W. S. ’’Tett at. Monday’s meeting of the board. Referring to the trouble experienced with a portion of the laundry machinery kn own as the hydro-extractor. Mr Flett suggested that the board should either obtain the services of an expert or else admit that it had a white elephant and scrap the machine. The wear and tear on the linen and hospital gear, was terrific, to say the least of it. Incuding interest and sinking fund, the la.undry had cost the board something over £lOOO for the year. In view of the results obtained the cost was too great. The laundry work was not being done satisfactorily, and if the agents for the machine said that it was mechanically all right, then it must be the oparau.i' who was at fault. The position could not go on, and something would have to be done to effect a. saving in that department. Mr J. W. Danby said that even with the new machinery he was doubtful if the clothes were being properly washed. In his opinion it would be money well spent to have a. thorough investigation made of the whole position. It was nothing short of scandalous the way garments.- were being ripped arid tom during the process of washing. Mr E. L. Walton reminded the meeting that a, special sub-committee had been set up to go into the matter, but so far he knew of no report being brought forward. Mr C. W. Parfitt contended that the positon was not an easy one to report on; He had found that it was necessary to run the machinery and wash daily, otherwise linen anil other gear would have to be increased by nearly one.third. The whole trouble seemed to be that the person appointed to attend to the washing was incompetent in that the manipulation of the machinery was not undei'istood. Mr Danby pointed out that the new machinery for the laundry w'ork had not, given the satisfaction that the old method of hajid-washing hail given. The present plant cost more and; had -not resulted in a saving of time and labour, but had shown! that it was the means of reducing the life of linen and garments by about onehalf. He was- firmly of the opinion that the agents for the machine should visit Thames and put matters right, whether it be the fault of the machine or the operator. After further discussion it was agreed to refer the matter, to Messrs Hale. Danby, and Brenan, with power to act.