The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, January 18, 1910. BE PATRIOTIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 800, 18 January 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, January 18, 1910. BE PATRIOTIC.

At yesterday's meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board, Mayor Nash in perusiug the accounts to be passed for payment directed attention to the fact that certain purchases had been made on behall of the Board in Wellington whjch he thought could have been procured from local business people. In future he said it should lie recognised that in the matter of Board requirements local business people should be first considered. These remarks met with the approval of other Board members. Mr Nash is certainly to be commended for nipping this sort of thing in the bud. In the present instance the amount expended may have been trivial but it is the principle of the thing which is wrong —at least so far as the expenditure of local public money is concerned, j

Unfortunately, Fo^ton —unlike many other towns —is not true to itself in this particular and it is surprising the amount. of mon.ey which is lost to the town by purchases which could be effected just as cheaply locally. To some the far off hills look green ; others to save the coloquial “ brownie ” foolishly spend threepence ; there are others again who from personal motives—-and these are the most to be pitied —go outside for their requirements. There is uo reason whatever to doubt that Foxtou should be able to supply local wants from the proverbial needle to an anchor at prices evtn below what is asked in the cities and vye should be patriotic and broad minded enpugh to giye our lopal industries and business places the fjirst call thereby keeping the money circulating locally.

THE NEW HOSPITAE ACT,

Tiik Hon. G. Fowi.ds, interviewed, said the first election under the new Hospitals Act takes place about March, when each contributory local authority will elect representatives according to its population and rateable value. The nominative system will then be abolished and the board members will be elected by the ratepayers. The Minister hopes to see the Hospital Boards take over from the local bodies responsibility in regard to the Public Health Act. Under the provisions of the new Act he hopes to see maternity wards provided at all country hospitals, with a view to encouraging country girls to come in for training and go back to their districts to practice. He proposes to allow such girls to obtain training free of cost provided they are recommended by the Hospital Board and guarantee to practice in any part of the hospital district to which they may be sent for at least two years. St. Helens nurses will also be allowed to finish their midwifery training in the backblocks. The Minister hopes for excellent results from the system of setting up special committees of publicspirited people in connection with the Hospital Boards.