STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

f STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tire Taranaki Daily News should be left at in-: office of our iocal representatives, ’Vilsoii Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Ur tiers for papers may also be ictc wit!' them. HOSPITAL BOARD. May 10. The Stratford Hospital Board met this morning. Present: Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman), R. McK. Morison, 0. T. Belcher, E. Marfell, C. R. Finnerty, J. O’Neill, and G. P. Harkness. The acting medical superintendent (Dr. Sowerby) reported that during the month of April, twenty-seven patients were admitted and twenty-six discharged, seventeen remaining at the end of the month. There were three deaths, sixteen operations were performed and there were two patients in isolation. The matron (Miss S. G. Beedle) reported that Sister Johnson, who had given invaluable assistance during the year she had been at the hospital, was to sever her connection with the staff at the end of May. Sisters Worthington and Campbell were to commence duty on June 1. There were now no names on the probationers’ waiting list. She recommended that the isolation ward be cleaned and painted.—The report was received, and it was decided to re-paint the isolation ward. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. The resolution striking the annual levy on the contributing local bodies was confirmed. In connection with the matter, Mr. Marfell moved that each of the contributing bodies be informed that the levy was higher than the board had hoped would be the case, owing to the subsidy received by the board from the Government this year having been considerably reduced. The chairman said the subsidy had been reduced from 20s in the £ to 12s 3d in the £, and this meant that the board had had to increase the levy in order to make up the difference of 7s 9d. When he and the secretary were at the Hospitals Conference they were as a voice in the wilderness in advocating the flat rate of subsidy, but the majority of the witnesses before the Hospitals Commission had been in favor of the flat rate. He believed that when the commission’s report came before Parliament, the flat rate would be .adopted. In reply to Mr. O’Neill, the chairman said the reduction in subsidy was caused through the Government trying to improve the system, but instead of improving it they had made it much worse. The Stratford Board was penalised because it was economical and struck a low rate and also because the valuation of the county had increased. He had noticed that the Hawera County Council had been protesting against the high valuation of the county. Mr. Marfell thought no new valuation should be rated for hospital purposes until the whole of the district was revalued. The resolution was carried after further discussion. SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HEALTH. A circular letter was received from the Department of Health asking for the board’s co-operation in providing hospital treatment for school children who were recommended to go into the hospital by the schools health officer, for such operations as the removal of adenoids. The chairman said he considered it was the duty of the board to do all that was possible in the interests of the .health of children attending schools. He moved that the department be notified that the board would render all the assistance possible in regard to medical treatment of school children in the Stratford Hospital District at such times as the medical superintendent stated were convenient. —The motion was carried. GENERAL. The chairman and Messrs. Finnerty, Morison and the secretary were appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter of outstanding accounts and report to the next meeting. It was resolved that the question of applying to the department for a maternity nurse to be stationed at Stratford, be deferred until the next meeting. The chairman stated that at the last Borough Council elections he was the only candidate nominated for the two seats on the Hospital Board, and it would be necessary therefore for the board to either appoint a member or approach the Borough Council and ask them to nominate a member. He moved that the chairman and secretary confer with the Borough Council regarding nomination of a member to fill the vacancy. The motion was carried. At the conclusion of the business, Mr. Belcher congratulated the chairman on his re-election, stating that the ratepayers. of the hospital district were fortunate in: having Mr. .Sole at the head of the board. Mr. Sole, in replying, said he fully appreciated the confidence reposed in him by the ratepayers. BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS. The following matters were dealt with at Monday night’s meeting of the Borough Council, in addition to those already reported:— The Mayor was nominated for a seat ' on the executive of the Taranaki Progress League as the representative of the council. The Stratford Hospital Board notified that the levy required from the council for hospital purposes was £306 Is.— The town clerk stated that last year the levy was £263, but there was a special levy of £75 in addition to that amount. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Lawson, the council passed a resolution highly commending Mr. Windleler for his efforts in trying to save the life of- the lad Beere on the occasion of the explosion of oil at the diesel station. On the motion of Cr. Hunter, the electrical engineer was instructed to report upon the fluming at the hydro station, and also on the certificates of the tradesmen licensed to do electrical wiring.

Cr. Lawsb# drew attention to the action of the borough inspector in having stopped parents carrying their children home from school on “push” bicycles. He asked if the point was covered by the by-laws.—A general discussion on pillion riding ensued, in which the opinion was expressed by some councillors i that the practice was not dangerous as ■ applied to push bicycles, and that it would be better to nut a stop to excessive speeding instead of bothering

about such matters. Eventually the matter was deferred until the next meeting

I Cr. Cameron suggested that in view , of the danger to traffic at the inter- : sections of Broadway with Fenton and • Regan Streets, the council should con- ■ sider the question of installing “silent policemen” at the corners in order to regulate traffic. He moved that the electrical engineer be asked to submit details of the cost of such installations. It was explained during the discussion that the device known as a “silent policeman’’ is an installation fixed in the centre of the intersections which is lit by electricity in order to act as a guide to motorists. Motor cars could travel over them without danger. —The motion was carried.

GENERAL.

The attention of all members of the Stratford A. and P. Association is directed to the advertisement in this issue to the effect that, owing to the change in the half-holiday the annual meeting! will be held on Saturday next (instead of Friday) at 1.30 p.m. in the Parish Hall, Stratford. Cr. Mdnnes is at present absent in Auckland. Mr. W. H. Robinson is leaving for Auckland by the Rarawa tonight on a short holiday visit. The death occurred at an early hour this morning of Mrs. Barbara Kovaleski, wife of Mr. Jacob Kovaleski, at the advanced age of 78 years. The late Mr. Kovaleski was an old settler of the Stratford district, her husband having been fanning for many years on the Croydon Road. Of recent years the family have~lived in Stratford and they will receive the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. The funeral will take place on Thursday, leaving the Roman Catholic Church for Kapuatawa Cemetery at one o’clock.

Your stationery requirements are well catered for by Wilson Bros., Stratford, who have a comprehensive stock of all office requisites and Typewriter supplies. Here are a few good commercial lines: Pilot letter files, 3/6 each; wire document baskets, 4/6 each; desk blotting pads, 4/9 and 6/-; first-grade typewriter carbon, foolscap size, 15/- box. Don’t forget to call or write.—Advt.