STRATFORD HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1920, Page 6

STRATFORD HOSPITAL.

OPENING OF NEW WARDS. EXTENSION OF GOOD WORK. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Nov 4. Since the Stratford hospital was established in 190S it has steadily increased in popularity, necessitating'the provision from time to time, of additional accommodation, and last year the Board decided on the erection of two new ward*, at an estimated cost of £,">001). The»e wards have now been completed, and at the invitation of the chairman and members of the board, libout 100 visitors were present at the opening ceremony this afternoon. The visitors were shown through the hospital by members of the staff, and bright music was provided during the afternoon by the Egmont Club orchestra of eix instruments.

Those, present included Mr. C. D. Sole (chairman), and Messrs E. Walter, R. 11. Cameron, R. Mcli. Mori,son, and C. R. Finncrty (members of the board). Mr. T. 11. Penn (secretary), Mr. J. D. Heo.lv (architect, to the board), Dr. D. Steven (medical superintendent), the Mayor '(Mr. W. McMillan) and the Mayoress, Mr. M. Eraser (chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board), Mr. T. C. Fookes, Mr. E. Marfell, the Revs, C. W. Howard, ■<J. W. MeKenzie, and Father Miples, and others who have taken a part in the development of the hospital. Realising the need for increased accommodation, said Mr. Sole, the board had decided to borrow £'.>ooo for the new wards and for completing the hot water service throughout the buildings. Of this sum only £'2uoo was repayable bv the ratepayers, as the Government would refund the. other portion. It had ateo been decided to gel an X-ruv plant, which was now on its way from England, and of tile cost, which would be between CBOO and £0(10, he was pleased j to say that it was all voluntarily subI scribed by the people and was subsidised by the Government, so that it would entail no charge upon the ratepayers. The board was also proposing to erect a new nurses' cottage to provide better accommodation for the staff.

As showing the progress of the hospital and its increase in popularity with the public, Mr Sole quoted figures giving the number of admissions from 100S to the present time, during which period there had only been a slight increase in the population of the district. In ISXIS the number of patients was 124, and last year the number was 330, which was striking testimony of the way the confidence of the public had increased, l'urther, the rate levied on the contributing local bodies was the lowest in Tarannki, being only half of what the New Plymouth district had to pay, and a little more than half of what tlie liawera district contributed. A suggestion had been made that private wards should be established for the benefit of people who could pay more for attention, but as. far as the Stratford Board was concerned there was not going to be any such wani established, ami rich and poor would be treafed absolutely alike. (Applause.) Mr. Sole then paid tributes to the staff, concluding by declaring the new wards open. ' The Mayor (.Mr. J. W. McMillan) congratulated the board on the progres.uiiulc, and remarked that the subsidy paid by the Borough Council had re mained about the same for many years, except a small increase this year for the provision, of a nurse's home at Whangamomrma.

Mr. E. Walter (chairman of the Stratford County Council and a member of the Hospital Board) said there was not a ratepayer in the county who was sorry that Stratford had broken away from the Taranaki Hospital District, and established a hospital of its own. 'I he hospital had proved of great benefit to the whole district, and by breaking away front New Plymouth a considerable saving to the ratepayers had been effected. Mr. Walter, on behalf of the county, expressed his appreciation of the board, the medical superintendent, and the stall', including the chairman and eecretarr.

Mr. M. Eraser, chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board, said that one of the annoyances of. hospital work at New Plymouth was that the people would not. take sufficient interest in the hospital. If was a rushing age. and the public were apt to forget when they were mailing off to the pictures and otlu;r amusements that there were 110 people in the hospital, some of tlicin seriously ill. He thought New Plymouth was getting so large that he was afraid it. had grown out of its sympathy. Mr. Fraser added his congratulation on Ihe fine new wards provided, and said that the board was fortunate in being able to get. £SOOO at the present time. New Plymouth hospital needed more than £.">01)0, but it was difficult to get the monev just. now. The visitors were then entertained fit afternoon tea by (he Hospital Board.