PROPOSED HOSPITAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 480, 10 June 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

PROPOSED HOSPITAL.

IMPORTANT MEETINC.

For some time past the question of the erection of a hospital in Puke- ; kohe, in memory of soldiers who fell on the field of battle has engaged the i attention of the various local bodies, and, with this object in view, the Auckland Hospital Board was invited to inspect the district. From time to time the Board's promises to visit Pukekohe nad not been carried out, but on Wednesday the Board, with the exception of two of its number, arrived, and were met by members of the Franklin County Council, Pukekohe Borough Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Waiuku Town Board, and citizens of the town,

A conference was held in the Borough Council chambers, the Mayor (Mr C. L. Lawrie) presiding. He welcomed the Board to the district, and explained the objects of the meeting, which was for the purpose of laying the district's views with regard to the erection of a hospital in Pukekohe before them. The hospital, which they were strongly advocating, would be a good thing for a district such as Pukekohe. He was strongly of the opinion that something should be dono whereby they could get a hospital erected. The various local bodies were sending their good cash to Auckland, and they were being very well treated indeed; but the time was opportune, he contended, for the erection of snch a building in Pukekohe. The Auckland hospital was a large institution, and'the time was coming when the Board would have to seriously coneider the question of extending the present hospital building, and for that reason he considered the present an opportune time to consider Pukekohe's request, as the Pukekohe district was a very progressive one. In welcoming the Board to Pukekohe he trusted thst the business visit would turn out to be one of pleasure as well. Mr R. F. Webster, President of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, said he had been interested in the question for sorr.e time, and on this occasion it had been brought up as a permanent memorial, in memory of soldiers who had fallen at the front, and for this purpose, as well as for the benefit of the public, he was an advocate for a hospital. Such an institution would be a benefit to the whole distriet. He thought it should be constructed as a branch hospital by the Auckland Board, and erected at Pukekohe. He claimed that Pukekohe, as a large centre, with a large population, was likely to increase. The Board should consider the difficulty which people giving many miles away had in getting medical aid. He referred more particularly to the people on the other side of the Waikato river, where there was a large Native population. He instanced the time of the influenza epidemic, when Natives, in many cases, stricken with the malady, were left to die. They had a temporary hospital erected in Pukekohe, and where cases were brought from long distances, cared for, and almost all recovered. He supplied the following figures to the Chairman of the Board, but did not read all out at the meeting: —The number of ratepayers in the ridings of Franklin County Council adjacent to the Pukekohe Borough were: Drury 100, Mauku 400, Pukekohe East 410, Pukekohe West 25«, Hunua 16J. Total IfJ'Jft. lie

also included the Mercer riding, which had a ratopayi r papulation <>f 200 To this '.-'Mild all > he added those residing in the districts across the Waikato river a? far hack as Olen Murray. The Onewheio :ind a« fat as Glen Murray people natural outlet was Piikekiho They were isolated from the Waikato hospital. He calculated the proportion of residents to ratepayers at ri'/e (to one. and th's would amount to 8440 esidents in the Franklin County, in the live districts named There were 1545 residents in the Borou.h and about 1000 iu the Merce riding. The total, he estimated at 10,035. TheWaiuku Jigures he had. and he gave them to the Hospit il Board, but as far as he was concerned he would not disclose them ti i the meeting but would let Waiuf'U people give them if they choose to do so,

The figures appearing on Mr Webster's memorandum were: Waiuku riding 230 ratepayers, Waipipi riding 240, total 170. Calculating as before, on a 5 to 1 basis, the population of these two ridings would be 2350, but to this could be added 300 as representing Awhitu. Pukekohe was the centre of a large population, and a business centre all of which came here, excepting Drury people, who would go to Papakura. In view of this he thought they were entitled to a fair claim for consideration of their request.

The Mayor at this stag* informed the Board that a referendum of the people resulted in favour of a hospital by a 3 to 1 majority. Cr G. Armstrong, a member of the Pukekohe Borough Council, in supplementing Mr Webster's remarks, said the Board should conceive what a district like this would be in 10 years' time. If they had no conception of the future no one could make a success of a matter. He put the claims of the district before the Board on simil ir lines to that at a recent deputation to the Board. ! reported in the Times], and trusted the request would meet with careful consideration. Mr Armstrong forcibly added that it was the wish of the people of the Borough that a Hospital should bo erected here, and coutrolled by the Auckland Board. If this could not he adhered to he was sure that in 10 years'time a separate Hospital Board would be formed, and contended that this would not be conducive to good management. A cottage hospital for Pukekohe was out of the question, but would, no doubt, suit Waiuku, as Waiuku was a " dead end." The time was opportune when the Board should assist there. A large auxiliary hospital here would be a blesssing to the district aud an aid to the hospital at Auckland. He was sure that if a hospital was erected 20 beds would be filled within a month. »

Or W. Claud Motion (chairman of the Franklin County Council) and Mr W. Roulston, a resident of many years' standing and Cr Wilcox (Franklin County Counoil) also spoke and said they would leave the whole matter in the Board's hands to decide after it had inspected the district.

Mr W. Wallace (Chairman of the Hospital Board) thanked them for extending such a hearty welcome He stated that their visit hero was purely to " spy out" the land, to see and judge for themselves, but they were not committed to anything yet. He quite endorsed Cr Armstrong's views—that was to say, to look to the future - and contended that a man had no right to be on public bodies unless he looked ahead. Eeferring to the question under discussion, he said the Board, after its inspection, would consider whether the district was suitable lor a fully equipped hospital or not. He reminded his hearers that the whole question was one of finance If ever there was a time in which a hospital was justified it was during the epidemic, Ihe Board bore the brunt and blast of the whole thing, and rose to the occasion. (Applause.) Pukekohe could not claim a great deal of credit for the temporary hospital, because when he and other members of the Board came here on a Sunday they found no temporary hospital, but found that Tuakau had a temporary hopital, and splendid work was being done under adverse conditions. He learned that the Borough Council had held meetings, and also was told that there were no cases in Pukekohe, and there was, therefore, no need to provide a hospital for the surrounding districts, "and yet, this very day, you am B'Ving for a hospital,'' conclude! the Chairman

One of those interested in the estab!i:-hment of a hospital in Pukekohe turned to the Press table, and said that someone must hnve eiven misinformation, prejudicial ■.■> the interests of the district.

Mr Wallace -ti'l the Hoard's attitude was non-co'imiitr.i. L'ukekohe wanted a hospital here, Waiuku wanted one there, and Patumahoe wanted it there. At any rate, the whole matter would be carefully considered by the Board. They quite appreciated what they wanted to do for the boys who had fallen in the war, and considered that nothing better would serve the purpose, but the question was, Could it be done ? He jocularly suggested that if Pukekohe wanted to do something they

could erect a wing at the hospital, and it could be called the Pukekohe Wing. (Laughter.) Further, said Mr Wallace, if a fully equipped hospital was erected here, it would not have such up-to-date appliances and requirements as they had in the Auckland hospital. The Medical Association at its conference, said that the theatre at the Auckland hospital was the finest in Australasia. They intended to keep up that reputation, and would have nothing but the finest apparatus installed, Mr J. G. Rutherford (the district's representative on the Hospital Board) said the matter would have the Board's deepest consideration, and when it did come up he stated that he would givu it is his support. Pukekohe was going ahead with leaps and bounds and had made great progress during the last ten years.

Dr Florence Keller (a lady member of the Board) said she admired the attitude of the district in trying to erect something in memory of the soldiers who had fallen at the front. The proposed memorial would not only stand out in honour of these men, but would help those left behind. Who was it that needed help ? None more than those who were sick ! If a hospital was erected in Pukekohe some people would naturally think that the city medical men were more skilful than those of the country, and would go to the city. She had experiened it, as she had practised in the country. No matter how skilful one was in the country some would think the city men's skill excelled it. Before they would patronise the local hospital that preconceived idea would have to be driyen out of their minds You might have as good a doctor here as in the city, but the idea would remain. Auckland Hospital had the appliances and the best and the whole question was that of finance Dr Keller said the matter would receive the fullest consideration of the Board.

The Mayor thanked the Board fcr visiting the districts and the meeting terminated.

The Board was entertained at lunch and afterwards visited Pukekone Hill in order to " spy out " the land. They then proceeded on their visit to Waiuku.

Witts nuking horseradish sauot, use condensed mllE instead of cream, and wfien tie vinegar has been added tba difference will not be noticeable. A tablespoon ful of vinegar added to die water in which meat i« stewed or boiled will make the toughest meat tender. To make red tiles a nice bright eleer color, rub them well with lemon dipped in fine salt, leave for a few minutee, then wash in the usual way. This will remove all stains. Stains on white silk can usually be removed by soaking the stain with gasolene, and then rubbing in as much lump magnesia as the gasolene will absorb. Before using a paper pattern, press it with a hot iron. This removes the numerous creases caused by folding and stiffens the usually very thin paper, making; it much easier i handle. When brushing stair carpets, have a ba«in of warm water bandy and dip the brush into it occasionally. This prevents the dusi from rising, and makes tb n color look clear and bright. To remove mildew from linen, rnk the spots with a piece of soap, then covei with a layet of chalk and place in the air to blorch. Repeat the process till all spots have ('isappeared. When mr.kiny; milk puddings use half milk ami half water for mixing them. This is more economical, and the pudding will taste almost as well as if made with all milk. If tai should U s;>'lt on any article, place in a <-auf.er the part of the article that is spoilt an;! pom pure olive oil over it. Let it =oak ail night, then wash in the usual way. md ;h-. tar will have disappeared. Take a little f.n dy-pmdered bathbrick, moi-lii u\!i unp.car. and when it is mixed to a paste nib a little on to the copper, let it -.'.arid tor a time, then rub off and polish with a soft cloth. To lengthen the wear ot children 1 ! stockings? daro :h- knees. beoK. and to,s on ,he '»>! .ii.» s.Je before 'hey are worn. Ties will make them last three time-, a- Now, and they null not show sign= of bavin : b.'cn darned. A Coal >,■■-'■'■■ ' Hint c .veep up all C( ,al dust ami m.x to ;h- eonsistency o!' day wi'h -;:! •'! wat.-r. Form into Initios, -ilbta t, •! md to bank up fires Th'- U -;,.oiallv useful for hanking iin- :«u ''■■ ni-fi: where there are invalids To rcne.\ dmhbv coat collars take a raw potato, pod it, and -rate it into a basin, l'mii half a pint of cold watt* over u, ami lot it stand until it DM settled. Tlu-n u'k" a piece of clean gannei dip it into too clear liquid, and rub the collar well. To make a soiled moire underskirt look like new. wash in the ordinary way: then, instead of using starch, dissolve hall an ounce of common glue in a pint of boiling water. Dip the skirt in. wring, and hang out immediately. When nearly dry iron on the wrong side. White shoes which have become too dark and dirty-looking to he cleaned can be turned into smart-looking brown shoes by rubbing them over with a mix-ruic'of twenty drops of saffon and two table jiooufuis of olive oil. Two applications .ill ye required to make the color dark enough. !i you wish to remove stains from 5> - ; .-machine oil. washing in a lather leele of soap, cn*n water, and a table- .,„ ~ ul nt ammonia will usually prove (~, es.ful. but in the case of colored '.,„.,., a ,,,: cottons the ammonia should La aiolied cautiously, as it is ant $• .. the color fade. A gmd substitute for an aidersjawi il- - a blanket of soft warm tentof* , I with quilted satin on one atdo ami u dh sateen on the other in a light*, ..,- ~: darker shade, or otherwise in a -on;;si!i_ co'.or. The quilting should ~.; ,~. m i,. d ; anionds. A good-siaed . .'ii- hi .itke- ■- '.•■ nsidered large enongk, ,_, u . a .. bi,! blanket ©an be B'.kssei jut it sjc.uld be chlA sWI