Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 148, 11 November 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

from Our Resident Reporter. HOSPITAL SATURDAY A WORTHY OBJECT Stratford has a new hospital thoroughly up-to-date, well designed, and erected in brick upon a very fine piece of land. The people are very proud of it, and proud of the reputation it hus achieved under the control of a most capable and efficient medical and nursinw staff. Lately an isolation ward has been erected, a very necessary adjunct to an institution of this kind. The public wore asked to assist the board in erecting this ward, and they responded nobly. Its erection cost a lot of money—much more than was subscribed—perhaps ten times as much. This the Board has

financed. Now the building has to be furnished, and contracts therefore have been let. This will cost about £2OO. But the Board has no money to pay for it. It is a glaring fact that hospitals are very expansive necessaries. The upkeep of buildings, payment of salaries, I and maintenance of patients, cost a big i sum of money. This money has to be [ furnished by the people, through the I local rating bodies. The Board, has kept down the amount of the levy as far as possible, to ease the ratepayers, but the cost of maintenance has increased, despite the sound economy practised in all departments. So there is no money available to pay for this furniture. But the Board knows its public, and it knows that Stratford has never yet turned down an appeal for funds for such a worthy object. It knows that many ' men and women who -do not contribute through the rates are very willing to help by cash contributions, and these well-disposed people are to be asked to contribute in a "Hospital Saturday" collection on December 21, or on Christmas Eve. The latter date seems specially suited for an effort of the kind, for when all men are speaking or thinking of practising goodwill to men it is hardly possible to overlook the claims of the sick and ailing.

The ladies of Stratford are asked to meet to-morrow (Tuesday) afternoon to ma!ke arangements for the collection. Mr. C. D. Sole and his fellow Oddfellows (or was it the combined friendly societies?) ran two -big hospital Saturdays | and a Hospital Sunday, and he will ! doubtless be in the thick of this one. [ The ladies will plan the campaign and 1 put their plans into operation. Efforts i will be made to interest the people out east. The last riding of the Stratford county and the Whangamomona county are on a very good wicket as regards the hospital, contributing liberally in the matter of patients but comparatively little cash in rates, and they generally escape such calls as this. Will someone take in hand the collection of contributions from the men on the co-operative works, who make a good deal of use of this very excellent institution and pay very, very little as a rule? The county, with twice the population of the borough, has to find six times as much money for the maintenance of the hospital, so townspeople should respond liberally to this appeal. Half a sovereign or half a crown is neither here nor there in the festive season. It should be borne in mind that every pound contributed earns 24s from the Government in subsi dr., So every five shillings earns six shillings, making eleven shillings in all.. It is not often that one can help so much at such little expense, and it 13 not often that people are asked for funds for hospital purposes. There is no need to dwell upon the usefulness of the hospital, for that was recognised in Stratford so generally that the separation of the district from the Taranaki district was fought for for many years.

Whether to make the collections on the Saturday before Christmas, or on Christmas Eve, or on both days, has to. be settled at to-morrow's meeting. It's a good thing. Push it along. A. & P. ASSOCIATION. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the general committee of the Stratford A. & P. Association was held on Saturday, the president, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, presiding. Over twenty members were present. The executive committee reported that the work on the grounds and in connection with the show was well in hand. Since the last general committee meeting the executive had met seven times, the advertising committee once, and the various had also met. The executive had written the Stratford Borough Council, the Stratford County Council, and the Railway Department, pointing out the danger to traffic arising from the high banks on each side of the Flint road crossing, and had the Borough Council's permission to remove 1 their portion of the banks. The Railway Department had also been written, asking for special trains on both show days, from New Plymouth. Waitara, Hawe'ra, Whangamomona and intermediate stations. The butter-fat competition committee had secured Mr. W. G.' Malone's paddocks on the Opunake road for the competition this year, and the executive was pleased to report that the competition closed with a record entry list of 40. It had been decided to hold the gift auction sale at 10 o'clock on the second day of the show, and the committee was' still open to receive animals for the sale. The executive had received notice from the Egmont A. & P. Association that they would be charging Is at the gates this year, this executive propose to do the same, as hitherto. Since last general committee meeting Mr. P Build had resigned from the executive, and Mr. A. Stewart had been elected to his place. The report was adopted. Thirtv-nine. new members were elected, and Mr. E. Hine was elected a life member. It was decided to charge 5s for nonmembers in the members' stand, end 2s and Is on the public stand. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr. A. Stewart for the donation of a pig for the pig-unessing competition, and to Messrs. Wiekham Bros, and A. C. Bell for gift of sheep for the sheep-guessing competition. STRAY PARAGRAPHS The lad who purloined cash from a postal packet was not a Stratford lad, bit was employed in one of the country offices in this district. I hasten to make the correction, for the mistake m Satur-,l-'s !K>.va<rraph contained an unmerited reflection on the Stratford staff. Mr Wesley Spragg and the Rev. James Dawson. No-licensc leaders, will be m Stratford to-night. Tbn Canadian Cadets passed through Stratford by Saturday night's express. bernarWpictures "The Trail of Gold" is featured as tne big drama to-night. The story is acted and screened in telling fashion, and is onlv one of a wonderfully good series. The illustrated songs just imported from America will be sung to-night by Miss Eileen Bernard and Mr. Will Diamond.