LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The owner of a dog which has been found at Turangarero can obtain possession by applying to Tihema Henare.

The meeting called for to-night to meet the Chautauqua organiser has been postponed until to-morrow night, when it will be held iu the Council Chambers at 8.40 o’clock.

A governess. Miss Ethel Robinson was drowned i n the Malta! Eiver, bathing alone. A mark on her forehead gives the impression that she dived into shallow water, Miss Eobinson cam© from Oamaru.

Underwriting seems to be a very profitable business if judged from the following advt. which appears in the current issue of Lloyd’s Register: “Rffl s, rine underwriter rc q U i rc d, with thorough knowledge of time underwriting on hulls and machinery. Experience absolute necessary, ,■ Commencing salary „ £15,000 per annum.” Underwrites is like hookmaking. It requires great experience and a natural gift.

A serious accident occurred yester

day in the factory of Petrotite Ltd. A young man, named Ivan Bentley, who li v es at Petone, was putting paper into a power-driven mincer, when his riguf hand was drawn into the machine and his arm was torn off at the elbow.

At a parade of a company of newlycalled up men the drill instructor face turned scarlet with rage as no slated a new recruit for his awkwardness. “Now, Rafferty,” he roared, “you’ll spoil the line with those feet. Draw them back at once, man, and get them in line.” Rafferty’s dignity was hurt. “Plaze, sargint,”he said “they’re not mine; they’re Micky Doolan’s in the rear rank.”

At a meeting in support of the huts and other war work of the Y.W.C.A., held at London Mansion House, sensational allegations were made by one of the speakers. The Hon. Emily Kinnaird said the object of the association was to get a right estimate not of woman’s wor’k, but of woman herself. In London alone there were 74,000 girls who had left the path of virtue, and the organisers were out to bo their sisters and friends.

A report on the total number of New Zealanders in hospital in the United Kingdom on November 30, was read from the Hospital Comforts Committee. New Zealand Red Cross, at the meeting of the Joint Committee of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John, held this morning. The total was given at, approximately. 6387, made up as follows:—Officers, 65. in British hospitals, 172 in Now Zealand; men, 1436 in British hospitals, 4714 in New Zealand.

The chief reasons for the falling-off in the volume of business' being done in t*tie building trade during the war arc given as follow in the annual report of the Master Builders and Contractors' Industrial Union of Employers:—Uncertainty as to the future on the part of property owners, the great increases in cost of timber, iron, hardware, etc., the increases in the wages of workers and the shortage of workers owing to the number who have gone on active service. It is hoped that, following bn peace, business will be forthcoming in the trade in greater volume than ever.

Speaking at a Labour meeting at Lyall Bay, on Wednesday evening, Mr A. L. Monteith referred to the peculiar financial methods adopted by the National Government in connection with the repatriation of returned soldiers. A case in point was the Porangahau estate, where £57(10 was paid, m an ‘average, for tine settling of Returned sildiers. As there is approximately 100,000 men to return, and if 15 per cent. o v f these men want land and the same average applied, it would cost £93,000,000. If 50 per cent, applied for land it would cost £300,000,000.

The kea pest was a subject of discussion at the last meeting of the Mackenzie County Council. Complaints were made that the trouble was increased by- the action of Government guides who did all they could to protect the keas so they would have them to show to tourists. It was said that through the action of the guides, keas were being bred on the Hermitage reserve to the great detriment of Mackenzie runholders, and it' was decided to join the Lakes County Council in seeking Government assistance to combat the pest.

Speaking at Lyall Bay on Wednesday evening, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., said that, in view of the great depreciation in the purchasing power of the sovereign, ho was of opinion that £1 a day "was not too much for a family of five to carry on with. This applied to Wellington in particular, in view of the enormous rents demanded for adequate accommodation On Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2 o ’clock, F. Ward and Co. wirf sell, at the Tui Street Mart, a large assortment furniture embracing everything required front kitchen to bedroom; also fowls, fruit, potatoes, onions, farm and garden tools.

It has been left to the Hun to administer the most withering rebuke of the conscientious objectors* Ifc was at a camp in the south of England where a large number of German prisoners arc engaged in making roads. A number of conscientious objectors were detailed to assist the prisoners, but on their arrival the prisoners struck work A German non-commissioned officer who was delegated to speak to the officer in command, said: “These men are conscientious objectors and won't fight for their country. Let them go and fight—the cowards!” The officer tried to reason with the delegate. The latter replied that they would accept any punishment, but they would not work with conscientious objectors. Eventually the objectors were withdrawn and the strike ‘ended. BIG VALUES—AII-over Lace. Usual price 2s lid, 3s fid. Sale Price Is lid per yard.—The Big Sale.—Collinson and Gifford.

TAIHAPE HOSPITAL.

RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER,

WANGANUI, February 13,

The Taihape "hospital, in connection with the management of which there has lately been some adverse criticism, was again discussed by the Wanganui Hospital Board tc-day. It was suggested that a resident medical officer should be appointed at £2OO a year, and it was thought that there would be no difficulty in meeting a young doctor who would accept ah appointment at the salary, though Mr. Joblin remarked that the gardener was paid more.

further discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Joblin, that a residehnnedical superintendent should be appointed. The salary was fixed at £2OO, without outdoor practice. It was decided that Dr. Boyd’s services should be dispensed with in conformity with his agreement with the Board.

(From the Wanganui “Herald.”)

A special meeting of the Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held today for the purpose of discussing new by-laws in connection with the Taihape hospital. ~ Mr. B. P. Lethbridge, chairman of the Board, presided, and in his opening remarks said the meeting had been-called as an outcome of a special resolution carried at the last meeting of the Board, the object being to improve the workings of the Taihape Hospital. It was also framed with the idea of considering the possibility of giving the honorary staff a chance to work in the hospital.

Mr. Battle, who moved the resolution, said the by-laws gave Dr. Boyd absolute cnarge of the hospital and when he was away for 24 hours there was no one to take his place. One suggestion of the speaker’s was to make a by-law allowing an honorary staff to send patients into the hospital and attend to them. The honorary surgeons should, in his opinion, work in rotation, say weekly with Dr. Boyd. The other alternative was 'to appoint a house surgeon and allow the hon. staff to run the institution. Mr. Battie advocated making more use of the Tashape- hospital, especially seeing that the accommodation at the Wangnttt hospital was becoming more limited. Mr. Joblin was pleased to support Mr. Battle’s scheme if it was proved to be a practical one. Mr. Joblin certainly thought that the hospital and patients should have thQ benefit of the experience of the two other doctors in the town (Dr. Sinclair and Dr. McDiarmid). He suggested that the honorary staff should take month about and not weekly turns. Mr. Battle explained that Dr. Boyd would be in charge of the hospital. The best solution would be to put a junior in charge and ho should worn under the honorary staff. Mr. Ritchie favoured the idea of a resident doctor. Mr. Svcnson was of the same opinion as Mr. Ritchie. According to the speaker, Dr. Boyd did not call in the hon. staff if he could avoid it. The suggestion to appoint a resident medical officer would get over the difficulty. Mr. Fletcher wished to know if the R.M.O. would be allowed to take outside practice, especially if the salary was to be £2OO. The chairman and Mrs. Comyns thought there would be no difficulty in obtaining a young doctor at £2OO

per year, Mr. Joblin: Wo pay the gardener more than that.

The chairman: 'A young doctor wishes to get experience. There will be no difficulty in obtaining the services of one who has just completed his college course. Dr, Boyd wrote stating that it would bo absurd to appoint a house surgeon. After hearing Dr. Boyd’s letter read, Mr. Battle said he would withdraw his resolution.

Mr. Joblin then moved: “Tl|at the Board should appoint a resident medical superintendent, and that the Taihape hospital should be worked the same as the Wanganui hospital.-

Mr. Ritchie seconded ,the resolution. Mr. Bassett very doubted whether another hospital of the same size in New Zealand had a resident medical officer. In Ms opinion the Board had been practically forced into the position. He would support the resolution under extreme conditions.

Mr. Fletcher thought the Board had allowed Dxv Boyd to force it into the present position. The motion was “carried. Mr. Bassett moved: 'That a resident medical officer be appointed at a salary of £l5O, and that he be allowed to practice within the borough boundary.” Mr. Battle was of the opinion that if the doctor was allowed outside practice it would cause more trouble, and the majority of members supported this view.

Mr. Svenson moved an amendment: “That applications be called for tbe position of resident medical superintendent at the Taihape hospital at a

salary of £2OO without outdoor practice.’?

This *as seconded by Mr. Bhttle au3 carried, the motion being lost.

It was decided-tha( Boyd’s services be dispensed with in conformity with his agreement with the Board.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Some person or persons, X might almost say unknown, in a spirit of vindictiveness complained to the Hospital Board that the food question at the Taihape Hospital was not ia their opinion satisfactory. This referred to the epidemic time when the staff was down with influenza and the work, not only here, but the country over, was entirely out of gear. There being no previous complaint, was the Board justified in jumping to the conclusion the medical officer was at fault? Now, sir, I challenge the Hospital Board to say and to prove there was a breath of complaint against me by any patients' whom I treated in the hospital during the last seven years. The report of my dismissal in Thursday’s “Dominion” would’lead the public to think I had done something very dreadful. I am pleased to say whatever enemies I may have outside I have none in the hospital. My relations with the nursing staff and the patients have been all that could be desired. This may not be as w r ell known as It deserves, for it has not been my desire to forward my professional work by the plaudits of the public “press. For the life of me I cannot imagine why the Board have vented their wrath on me. but I intend to find out. The complaints were against the nursing management, and the matron, who Is In con trol, being very ill, the hospital management could not be expected under these circumstances to be up to par. I wonder has any other nospital board in the Dominion been so drastic in their treatment of a medical man without due and well-consider-ed reason?—l am, etc.,

R. J. BOYD, M.D.