DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 430, 29 November 1918, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

PAPAKURA. HOSPITAL CONTROL LOCAL FRICTION. It is an open secret that harmony has not prevailed in the efforts made in Papakura to cope with the influenza epidemic, and the whole cause of the trouble seems to be that the local organisers were not given, by the Hospital Board, independent powers of action in the control of the hospitals, and thus, with divided management, friction has arisen. The committee, for instance, do not accept responsibility for''*tlHk overcrowding at the hospjfals that was complained of by MrlW. Wallf&e, the chairman of the Bmpital Board, on the occasion of his wit to Papakura last Sunday, and that the absence of any systemw) regulations for admission to the njjtaitals resulted in some persons beingllhw there without being previously seS| by a doctor, patients whether suffering in a mild or serious form thus gaining entrance. Mention is also made of an instance of over-eagerness on the part of a certain worker, who, imbued with the idea that a youth who, under the committee's supervision, was acting as a mc tor-car driver for transport purposes, had contracted the disease, threatened to forcibly remove him to the hospital, despite the lad's protests tnat he was in no way affected. Such dgjgtjc action was only prevented tMR Rev. W. C Wood coming to tSi lad's rescue, the sequel being that on the following day the supposed sufferer was found to be in a perfect state of health. Resentment is also expressed in regard to the appointment of a paid official to assist in the work of organisation. The committee in charge of that the appointment/is not oUty unnecessary, but thatl in any Itese, they should have %een consulted before it was made. %i order that a repetition of such incicfitots as stated should be avoided, fm following letter has, with the authafey of the Chairman of the Town K D McLennan) been forwarajd by the Town Clerk (Mr Harold to Mr W. Wallace, Chairman of tnP Auckland Hospital Board, viz.: —"I am instructed by the Chairman of the Papakura Town Board to advise you that some two weeks ago he placed the management of the local temporary hospital (other than the purely medical side) in the hands of the Rev W. C. Wood, who is still acting in that capacity. You will gather from this that Mr Wood is (in the unavoidable absence of the Chairman) practically acting in the matter as if he were the chairman of the Board, subject, however, to any dispute that may arise between the central office and the hospital management being referred to the Chairman (Mr McLennan). You will, therefore, kindly refer all matters (other than relating to the medical side) to the central office, under the con'rol of the Rev. W. C. " It may also be stated though, as already Rev. Mr Wood and his claim that they were not concerned in the congestion that occurred at the buildings being used as hospitals yet in their opinion things had progressed so well that there was no necessity of going to the expense of converting the public school into a central hospital to take the place of the other three hospitals They point out that prior to Mr Wallace's visit last Sunday the epidemic was well under control and that no patients have come forward for hospital treatment since tjjgMßMjfh part of last week. With fewTSWpi tions all the inmates of the hospitals, they say, were making good progress towards recovery and with convalescents being gradually discharged congestion would have disappeared and in fact the hospitals would likely soon to have been emptied. REVISED ARRANGEMENTS Since the foregoing was written further developments have occurred as the result of another visit paid by Mr Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, to Papakura yesterday Mr Wallace conferred with Mr McLennan, chairman of the Town Board, Dr Brookfield and the matron, Sister Froude, and it was decided, owing to Mr McLennan being unable to undertake the duties, to place control of the arrangements outside the hospital in the hands of Mr D W. Jones, who organised the original relief scheme, but has since been ill with influenza, and Mr W. E Webb, with the assistance of the Town Clerk Harold Wilson). The control of the hospital will be under Dr Brookfield and Sister Froude. Mr Wallace^stated last evening that it was h183N6i6 arrangement would do awaptoith the; difficulties which had enced, and make for the ilKe economical administration of tn» * campaign. He mentioned that voluntary assistance was urgently required, and ladies willing to help with the nursing and cooking should apply to the Town Board office, which would be the headquarters fori, the campaign. Food, fruits and other delicacies were also required, and gifts of such articles would be thankfully received. Mr Wallace added that there are now 22 adults and seven children in the at Papakura. So far, 5. r > 1 had been admitted, and them had been nine deaths iu the hospitals.

In accordance with the instructions of the Chairman of the Hospital Board the Methodist Hall, Parish Hall aud Mrs Watson's boardinghouse, are no longer being used as temporary hospitals, all the patients therefrom having been on Wednesday last transferred to the public school. This work was carried out by members of the Ambulance Brigade sent down from Auckland, patients being placed on stretchers and taken by motor-cars to the new quarters. Miss Johnston's tea rooms in the Broadway have been taken over as a

the hospital Mise I JUljMton honWf assidtmp^Tuuising Dp the Papakura death roll, local residents who passed aw\? at the Auckland Public HospitalXhad totalled 11. The majority of dlhths at the hospitals haww however, \een those of patients wWht in Yfrom the country. TolLlatest fatallcase was that of Mr %rneet Wleeler, of ■ Moumakai, wIL passed/away on 1 Tuesday evening^n^^ > Sister Froude is now in charge of ' the hospital in thejjnjblic school and ' it is hoped that will run much > more smoothly? than previously. I Mr T. D. ffempbell, as chief of the " oubjNNrataff, his had his ! time fufly occflßHfobut ungrudg- ■ ingly ha has stuck wf his task both ' night nd day. He paid a visit to i Karaka\ few days ago in order to » administer relief to the Maoris at ■ that Bettl«ent, two deaths amongst t the nativesaliing occurred there. Miss ShephCTfl has undertaken ' the housing {m convalscents from i the hospitajLjjj&fier Tesidence on the | thoughtful act has • earn eel tie gratitude of those she ' has so kindly entertained. > It is probable that the epidemic 9 will induce the Town Board to re- , in regard to the instal--1 a water supply scheme. - The9Bwbto>f an adequate supply r of been felt in many I had even to be • carted to twooßWie buildings used , as hospitals.