STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondeafc.) _J [All communications, letters, etc., left with Ur H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt utwitloa.J HOSPITAL CHARGES, August -25. Mr E. Walter succeeded in carrying his motion at the last meeting of the Hospital Board, which mean.-; the charges will be 7s per day with a rebate of Is per day if paid within a month niter the account has been made. Mr Walter based his argument on the high prices for goods; wages of statf ; etc... and to ttie fact that many who made use of the hospital could well afford to pay the 7s. Admitting that the hospital is the best possible place to go to for treatment, it must also be admitted that many, by force of eircthostanae, are quite unable to pay 6s, Jet alone 7a : so it looks like a mistaken idea to imagine that the unfortunates obliged to lay "up for repairs" will meet the new charges with a smile. It is obvious the class who can meet a hospital hill without any serious trouble invariably seek a private, instead of a public, institution, so it must be conceded that the inmates of a hospital, with rare exceptions, are the middle and working classes, and it will also be admitted that the man on wages with a family has anything but a smooth pathway to travel. Indeed, it has been more often than not a very rocky cne during the past few years. Mr Sole opposed the increase, but was playing something in the nature of a ■one-hand, though the chairman (Mr J. McAllister) was inclined to be sympathetic. At the Friendly Societies Conference Bro. S'ole gave some interesting details of Friendly Societies' work, and incidentally mentioned that it was not the custom of a hospital to render accounts until a patient was discharged. If this is go, and granting thai tbe patient is 1 man in receipt of .€4 per week, and a family of four, what chance lias he of paying up within a month for a sickne»s extending over six weeks? To a man of means six weeks at £2 ft, is a mere detail, but to the patient who his income cut off as lone as he is awav from hi? employer's premises the position is rltogether different. Again, what about • hp father who has an epidemic of diphtheria on the premises, and with children m the hospital and nc-w bedding, etc., to be secured, is he in the position to pav im promptly' Hospitals are not obliged -o take the cl-.-nniu patient, so lie is left mit hut there is the man (or woman) in through accident. He or she is worthy of considefation, but through distress" of circumstances may be minus the ability to pay up to secure the rebate. Ptra+ford hospital has a fine reputation,' and statistics show it is one of the best managed institutions in the Dominion and verv well continue under the existing scale of pavments. The hospital h sustained by rates, and the mem. 'bers should ever striye to see the charges kept down father thnn increased It is conceivable'that Mr. Waller and those who supported his motion will later find that there was no immediate necessity for incrpn°in? the charges iTospitals. l!l;.. rnWwava. etc.. shou'd he for tJ>(> pii-lijy ho'tofit, nnci nf trv'iig to mnke i 1 r > ,mr financial leeway •he erwnse of t'. 0 sufferer obl: se d to un'em> it should be at the exppnse of the healthy nvtcpfiyer

GENERAL ITEMS. Stratford, August 26. On Saturday the annual meeting of the ■Model Dairy and Experimental Farm will bo held The report shows that the work, generally has been very satisfactory,' some big improvements having been effected since July 1, IM7. Amongst other things, mention is made of substantial cowshed, stookyard, etc., at a cost of £-1/5, all the buildings being in concrete; 3.5 acres had been stumped and ploughed, 150 chains of fencing completed, one mile of barberry hedge and 600 young trees planted for shelter. Owing'to the fiigh prices ruling, the absence of feed, and lack of funds, the society had been unable to purchase cows with established reputations, but hoped to build up the herd as opporTur.itv permitted. A good de.il of attention has been focussed on the Copper Trail, and after the meeting of the two executives tomorrow the contest will be launched- The funds are for the Red Cross, and Stratford's efforts are expected to give the society a_ substantial lift., and blot out a few miles in the Wellington-Auckland contest. The junior golf players controlled the Patriotic Tea Rooms and "Mart on Saturday. The takings at the Tea Rooms amounted to £lO 10s and at the Mart £l3 Several prizes were competed for, Mrs. J. R. L Stanford winning an elephant (fortunately, it docs not require feeding or stabling!) and a box of tea, whilst Misses A. Kirk-wood and E. Moon won camisoles. The tattings, etc., go to th" <s"ldierV fomforts Fund. Just a final reminder nf the farewell social to Miss L. M 'Spence in the Cornnation Hall, Tcrkn. to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. A popular ladv, good floor, best nmsic. and general company should assure a bumper house. 'Stratford Card Club bad another close 'imp in their contest with the Druids. When play ceased, each side bad wx>n 21 games, and an extra game was necessary. this going to the club. Scores (Stratford Club mentioned first): .T. Thompson and R. Kivell t v. B. Lewis and P. Creon 0; .F. Collins and C. Fowler ? v. A. Drake and D. But-bart JO; TI. CampMi and T. Law son 6 v. C. Tins* and J. TI. Sharroek 2; C. Speck and R. Scannell 7 v. O. Cross and 11. Leitch 5: .T. Xenl and P. Clifton C> v. 11. Burmeiiter and D. M'Whirter 3. Xnw is the time to purchase chinaware at prices much below value. Leather goods, particularly handbags and purses, at prices that defv competition; jewellery (gold and silver ware) in. great variety and at citv prices; toys and f.mcv soods equally cheap. Only at C. E. -Tames', the man who caters for dad and the boy, mother and curly locks. Bur at. .Tames'; save money and get satisfaction —Advt.