STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1920, Page 3

STRATFORD.

TARANAKI DAILY NEWS 6TRATPORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication should he left at the office of the local representative, W. J. Wilson, next Union Bank. HOSPITAL BOARD. October 12. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held to-day. l'res-. ent: Messrs C. IX Sole (chairman), K. JleK. Morison, C. R. Finnerty, E. Walter, 1!. 11. Cameron, and T. H. Perm (secretary). The chairman reported that Mr. R. Masters, M.P., had been in communication with the Ministers of Justice and Health with reference to the Bennier family, and was confident of being able to get the .Justice Department to take over the responsibility for the children. The Board went into committee to consider tenders received for the erection of a nurses' cottage, and on resuming it, was reported that no tender had been nccepted, the matter being left in the hands of the architect to carry out by day labor. With reference to the appointment of a medical practitioner at Whangamomona, the Board decided that it was prepared to confirm the appointment of Dr. 11. E. Finch, of Auckland, to the position, provided he proved satisfactory after a personal interview with the Whang.'iiuoiuona Medical Association, and that the chairman and Mr. Kimierty represent the Board at that interview.

The medical superintendent (Dr. I). Steven) reported that during the month of September eighteen patients were admitted, 21 were discharged, and there •ve.ro no deaths. Twenty remained in hospital at the end of the month. Five operations were performed under anaeethetict;. There were four soldier outpatient attendances. There were two ■ •ases of scarlet fever and one of whooping cough in isolation at the end of the month, and at the time of writing, October 11, there was one case of scarlet lever and one of mumps. The domestic uall' at the hospital was not yet complete.—Received. The matron (Mks 8. ft. Boodle) reported that the position regarding domestic help remained unchanged, and she was still without a cook and girl to help in the ward kitchen, while the laundress was away sick. For the past six weeks the nurses had been relieving in the kitchen.—Received." Miss M. Myers, district nurse at W'hangamomona, reported that the total number of surgical cases she had attended during the month of August was '2O, and during the month of September 111. —Received. Mr. V. G. Coleman, district health inspector, reported that the following pases of infectious disease were notified during the month of September: Scarlet fever 1. diphtheria 1, pneumonia' 1. in - duenza 2. One milk vendor had been fined £2 and costs. —Received.

PROPOSED MATERNITY ITQ.SPJTAL. A proposal that a maternity ward should lie 'provided at the Stratford District Hospital, was made at yesterday's meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board by the"chairman (Mr. C D Solet. Mr. Sole said that there was a great need for such a ward to be provided at the hospital, and people frequently complained to him a haul the enormous charges for maternity eases at. private institutions. The position, in fact, was appalling as far a.~ the poorer people were concerned, and he had been told that as much as £■"> a week was charged in the private institutions, and that mothers could not get >a nurse in their own homes for less than £.l or .E4 a ivcek. The Board had a duty to the ratepayers in this respect and should face the position and do what, il possibly could. lie did not think the proposed ward would result in any additional charge on the ratepayers. The medical superintendent (Dr. Steven) had agreed with him that something should be done in the direction of assisting maternity cases. in reply to a question, Mr. Sole said that there had been 270 births in the Stratford Hospital district last year, and some of the children had been born under very bad conditions. On all hands there was a cry for an increased birthrate, but unless something was done to make the conditions for bringing children into the world a Utile easier for the parents, it would be a bad look-out for the country. It was the Board's duty to provide some relief, especially a's the Board could attend to such eases at a charge not exceeding £2 or £3 <i week for everything. If this was done, he believed in a little while fully 75 per cent of the maternity cases would go to the public hospital and the ward would be self-supporting. He moved that thu chairman and medical superintendent report to the Board at the nest meeting on the question of providing for maternity eases at the hospital.

■ilr. R. II Cameron seconded the motion. He stated that a movement in favor of providing a maternity ward was initiated about twelve year? ago, but was not gone on with, The cost of bringing children into the world was hecoming beyond the means of most people, and it was the duty of the Board to render what relief was possible. Mr. E. Waller expressnd himself as being in favor of the proposal, but he wanted to see economy exereis-e'd. Jlr. R. McK. MoHson said the-Board should not consider the matter of cost so much a- th» mat'tcr of bettering the conditions for bringing children into the world. Tne resolution wa= carried unanimously. The chairman expressed his, gratification that tin- members had been unanimous in regard to the matter, aijd said the whole matter would be very carefully considered, in order to avoid if possible, making any further calls on the ratepayers. GENERAL. The Hnroiigh Council divided last night to prosecute any persons found trespassing mi the hydro station property without a. permit, and also to Wl'cr a rew.ird of Ci for information leading to the conviction nf ivy person or persons found tampering with the council's properly. The decision was adopted on the recommendation of the electrical engineer (Mr. 10. K. Hollands), who reported that on the morning of October .''. some malicious person shut ihc main-tunnel pale at the head works, (hereby putting the plant out of action for some time. The new by-laws relating to the storage- of dangorouS goods were mentioned by f'r. It. 11. Cameron at last night's meeting of I he !So,-oU'.:h Council, ' Or. Cameron said people had approached him -faii-i". that t],e bi--'-\vs seemed too drastic, and that similar by-laws in

other towns were not enforced. As Ihe by-laws allowed the storage of only 20 cases of benzine in one building, they were likely to operate rather severely on some of the garage proprietors. The Mayor said the whole matter could be discussed when the applications for licenses to store dangerous goods came before the council. The Borough Council has decided to obtain quotations for a new and up-to-date rubbish earj;, with a view of improving the system of rubbish collection in the town. The number of admissions to the hospital last month was the smallest for many years, remarked the chairman (Mr. C. ©. Sole) at to-day of the Stratford Hospital Eoarat Even the definition of a cook as a "culinary sisterj" which was made by the chairman (.Mr. C. D. Sole) at the September meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board, has not resulted in the services of a cook,-being obtained for the hospital, and at to-day's meeting of the Board the members came to the eonelusion that some greater inducement must be offered in order to secure the elusive cook. The chairman drew the attention of the members to the attract ions "which the position offered to a cook, but other members considered that these advantages were not a sufficient inducement unless a bigger salary was offered. Eventually it was decided to increase the cook's salary to £2 10s a week, and to call for fresh applications for. the position. Under the new by-laws which recently rame into operation in Stratford, it is provided that permission must he granted by the Borough Council before any collection is taken up in the streets. At last'night's meeting of the council, it was decided to delegate this authority to the Mayor. Permission was given to the Stratford School Committee to take up a street, collection in connection with the spring flower sale day. The petition asking for a continuous telephone exchange in Stratford, which lin.s been in circulation for many months and has not yet obtained the required number of signatures, was mentioned again at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. The opinion was expressed by some councillors that, owing to the difficulty of obtaining signatures, the petition should be dropped. Or. .laekson said he had endeavored to get move signatures for the pel il ion. and if seemed ridiculous to him thai the business subscribers should hn\c to pay for what would really be for 'the coiivcni- i once of rafsidential subscribers only, j The council decided to leave the matter in the hands of the sub-committee appointed to go into the question, and to decide definitely whether to go on with it or not at the next meetings The petition at present requires only about six additional signatures. Mr. ,T. "W. Spenee, advisory engineer to the Stratford Borough Council, has ! reported that (he timber for re-decking the Victoria bridge over the Patea river I is being procured.

McAllister, photographer, Strat/ord, has the best equipped studio in Caraj'fiki, a capable staff and years of experience. Besides this the prices are the lowest in the Dominion for the same class of work. Make an appointment without delay. What better present can you give yourself or your friend than a Fountain fen? Now that you can obtain a reliable Fountain Pen for a very small >iim, is it wise to he without one? Wo have a large variety of self-filling pens, stylos, and safety pens, including the well-known makes of Scheaffors and John Whitworth, at prices ranging from Ids to 2 guineas. Tell us what style of nib you like. H. J. Hopkins. Stationer, Stratford.