In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24236, 20 September 1940, Page 6

In the News

Free Hospital Treatment

Among the measures of assistance which the Department of Health desires to have given free to fosterparents of British ■ children who may arrive in New Zealand are medical, dental and hospital attention. In a letter which was received by the Southland Hospital Board at yesterday’s meeting, the Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) said he was approaching hospital boards with the request that they give free out-patient treatment to these children. Arrangements were being made for children of school age to receive free treatment within the scope of dental clinics and he was approaching the New Zealand Dental Association and the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association for any assistance within their power. The board decided to make a free outpatient service available to the children. “We will do all we can for them, said a member.

Congratulations To Soldier Cricketers

’ The Southland Cricket Association at its annual meeting last night decided to adopt the suggestion of the newlyelected president (Mr J. S. Brass) and send a letter of congratulation to every Southland cricketer serving in the military forces. “We should send a personal letter to every cricketer and wish him good luck and a safe and speedy return to civil life. I am sure they would appreciate it,” said Mr Brass. Gift Of Groceries

“A year’s groceries to be taken at the rate of £1 a » eek or as desired,” is the suggested title of a raffle of groceries proposed in a letter to the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council written by the secretary of the National Patriotic Board (Mr G. A. Hayden). The letter contained advice of a gift from Mr B. Sutherland, director of the Self Help Co-operative Limited, Wellington, of £4OO worth of groceries to the National Patriotic Fund, £5O worth of which is to be given to the Southland fund. It is probable that an application for a raffle permit will be made by the Southland council. Southland Nurses

“Looking round the room I see what a fine, robust type of nurse we have,” remarked the chairman of the Southland Hospital Board (Mr T. Golden) at the hospital yesterday when medallions were presented to nurses who were successful in the State examination taken at the end of the three-year training course. “I hope that they will stay on and be staff nurses and not be too hasty in getting married,” he added, when congratulating the successful candidates.

Fire Brigade Receives Call The Invercargill Fire Brigade received a call by telephone at 10.37 o’clock last night to the residence of Mr C. B. Tapley, 77 Dalrymple street. There was a small outbreak of fire in the hall caused by sparks from a pipe setting alight an overcoat. The damage was slight.

Free Hospital Beds The fact that many persons who were well able to pay for their beds in public hospitals were claiming free beds under the Social Security scheme was the subject of comment at the meeting of the Southland Hospital Board yesterday. “Even a millionaire can claim a free bed in a hospital now,” said the chairman (Mr T. Golden). Dr J. A. Pottinger said that the idea of getting something for nothing was infectious and was spreading to persons who were well able to pay. Books For Troops

A good response has been made by the public to the appeal by the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association for reading material for men of the fighting forces and already a quantity of books has been received. The books that have been received are in fairly good condition, although some of them are unsuitable. It should be emphasized that the books must be in good order if they are to be distributed among the troops and that no women’s or children’s books are required. Fire In Mail Box

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Tuesday one of the mail boxes at the Te Aro Post Office, Wellington, was found to be alight and a quantity of mail was destroyed before the flames were smothered. The police and fire officials are inquiring into the cause of the fire. Control Of Kumera Imports

The prohibition of the importation of kumeras into New Zealand without the consent of the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Nash) is contained in the Customs Import Prohibition Order 1940, Amendment No. 2, which was published in tonight’s Gazette. In future the Internal Marketing Department will control the importation, sale and distribution of overseas kumeras in the Dominion.—Press Association.

Sickness In Wellington Wellington has lately suffered an outbreak of winter sickness—measles, whooping cough, diptheria, scarlet fever and influenza—which have affected school attendances and caused further difficulty in staffs of Government offices and business houses already in many cases short staffed because of enlistments in the armed forces. Influenza, mostly of the gastric type, is still fairly prevalent. Profit On Petrol

Investigations are being made by the Department of Industries and Commerce with a view to adjusting the profit resellers are allowed to make on petrol, which is now 3d a gallon, jt was stated at the annual meeting of the. New Zealand Petrol Resellers’ Association. The president of the New Zealand Motor Trade Federation, Mr C. R. Edmond, said they hoped that action would be taken in the near future, delay having been caused by the failure of some retailers to return to the department a questionnaire, that had been distributed to representative businesses. The trade’s policy was to ask for a profit of 15 per cent., a calculation of profit based on a percentage being fairer than one based on pennies when prices were fluctuating. On his motion it was decided to ask the Government to treat the matter as urgent.