STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1928, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

|> Telephone No*. ft 552 Office H! 718 Private

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

.G.n...01,...i.. Telephone No*. I 552 Office 718 Private

HOSPITAL BOARD’S WORK THE CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital and CharitaWe Aid Board was held, yesterday. An annual report and balance-sheet was submitted by the chairman, Mr. W. L. Kennedy. Those present were Messrs W. L. Kennedy, J. O’Neill, G. P. Harkness, R. V. Kay and C. R. Finnerty. In his report the chairman congratulated the members of the board and the staff upon the efficiency with which the work of the board had been carried out. There was nothing of outstanding importance, there having been little capital expenditure during the year. The principal item was the changeover of the electrical installation. The general policy of the board had been maintained.

Mr. Kennedy paid a tribute to the late chairman, Mr. C. D. Sole, who had always had the welfare of the institution at heart, and under whose guidance the hospital had progressed so satisfactorily.

While the number of patients had not increased as a whole, continued the report, yet for some time the accommodation had been taxed. Consequently the staff had had a strenuous time, and deserved the thanks of the board for its unselfish attention to duty. The medical superintendent. Dr. D. Steven, had had to have extended leave of absence, but the latest reports of his health were favourable and he hoped to resume duty at the end of the present month. His work had been very satisfactorily carried out by Dr. Rich. The maternity annexe was highly praised by patients, continued Mr. Kennedy. During the year there had been 130'births and no deaths. A pre-natal clinic had been instituted at the hospital and bad been opened on September I, 1927. Since then lectures had been given every Wednesday by the matron and the superintendent. Fortunately there had been no epidemics of infectious diseases during the year, so the isolation ward bad been used but little.

Excellent work was being done in the 'Whangamomona County by the Medical Association through District Nurse Myers. The work appeared to be appreciated by the settlers. The Medical Association at Tangarakau continued to give satisfaction to the numerous employees of the Public Works Department. and the settlers in that vicinity. The association's relations with the board were of a friendly and. satisfactory nature. Regret had been felt when Dr. Edginton had tendered his resignation in order to study in Britain. Dr. Smith had 'been appointed and was giving complete satisfaction. On his appointment it had been decided to dispense with the services of a district nurse.

On March 27 the hospital had been visited by the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, accompanied by Mr. E. Walter, M.P. The Minister had made an inspection and had expressed satisfaction with the work being done at the institution.

The report was received and a vote of thanks accorded the chairman.

The balance-sheet showed expenditure £10,019, and receipts £9816 19s sd. There was a balance of £355 brought forward from last year, so' total receipts were £10,271 19s sd, leaving a credit balance of £252 19s sd. This was considered satisfactory.

The acting-medical superintendent reported that during the month 63 patients had been admitted and 63 discharged, there being 34 patients in the hospital at the end of the month. There had been no deaths. Five operations had been performed under anaesthetic. Outpatient attendances had numbered 48. There were 14 births in the maternity ward. The isolation ward had been open at the end of the month for two cases. The work had been very heavy for the staff.

The matron, Mrs. J. Hunt, reported that Sister Stevenson had been granted leave of one week during the month on account of illness in the family. She had resigned on March 24 and had been relieved of her duties on March 31. Nurse J. Flint had completed midwifery training on April 2. The matron and the medical superintendent recommended that she should be retained on the staff until the midwifery post was filled. The matron had obtained the services of Nurse K. Smart for one week from March 25 owing to pressure of work. Nurse Margaret Moiinsey had left the hospital on March 19. The works committee reported, that seating accommodation for those visiting patients was not sufficient, and suggested that a number of bedside stools be purchased. T3ie chairman said the matter would be considered.

The Director-General of Health advised that the Minister had approved of the board's incurring an overdraft of £506 , duing the first three months of the j financial year. _ 1 In reference to the board’s return ot proposed capital works to provide for the extension of the laundry building j and provision of equipment, the Direc-tor-General asked for further particu- ’ lars of the proposal as he required 1 some information to enable him to I judge whether the work was essential, 1 or whether in view of the desirability of curtailing hospital expenditure, as much as possible it could stand over. Consideration would be given a suggestion that very serious cases should not be placed in the room near the . ladies’ ward. Drs. Cordon and Gordon have removed from W. A. Brown’s Pharmacy to Carryer’s building, and, in future hours of consultation will be as advertised in this issue. HJSPITAL AND JUBILEE. At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board some dissatisfaction was expressed because the jubilee committee did not invite members of the board to attend the celebrations in their official capacity. After m,;i ■■ discussion a resolution was passed, to be sent to the jubilee committee, deploring the fact that the board had been more ox lees ignored and ret

gretting that only scanty reference bad been made ia the jubilee booklet to the hospital, the board and. their progress. STRATFORD FOOTBALL CLUB. MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE. Tiie executive of the Stratford-Rugby Football Club met last night, Mr. R. F. Harkness presiding. The meeting deferred discussion on tlie advice from the New Plymouth Sportsground Committee that the Star Football Club was willing to play Stratford on the New Plymouth ground on April 21 or 28. The committee was willing to pay transport for the Stratford team to New Plymouth. The Opunake Club’s intimation that it was willing to play a match with a Stratford team on April 14 at Opunake if that were suitable to the Stratford Club was received.

The secretary was instructed to advise the Eltham Club that as the Stratford seniors would be playing at Opunake on the day of the seven-a-side tournament at Eltham, and as most of the juniors would be attending the military camp, the Stratford Club would be unable to enter a team in the tournament for the Dunn Shield.

The secretary reported that after all expenses had 'been deducted there was a profit of £1 2s 6d on the Stratford v. Inglewood match. It was decided to hold a central divi- i sion tournament on April 19 on the I lines of that held last year. Messrs. ■ W. J. Aitken, W. C. Thurston, H. M. Rood and C. C. Johnson were appointed to attend to details. Mr. C. J. Cuff advised that he would be unable to be third-grade selector this season. The meeting expressed regret and accorded Mr. Cuff a vote of thanks for his services. RE REGISTRATION BY MOTORISTS. Six hundred and forty three motor ears had been re-registered at Stratford Post Office up to yesterday, and it is estimated that between 80 and 100 are ye to come. Of the motor cycles in use 229 have been re-registered. The number of new registrations is subject to variation from year to year, but this year there will be over 700 requiring new number plates. To date 415 new drivers’ licenses and 17 heavy traffic licenses have been issued by Inspector A. E. Sayers. Last year there were 557 drivers’ and 51 heavy traffic licenses issued. UNCASHED CHEQUES. CHANGE SCARCE AFTER HOLIDAYS The important part played by the banks in the life of the Stratford community was in evidence yesterday. It was sale day and the town was full of people, many of whom wandered from business establishment to business establishment ith the request, “Is it possible to cash a cheque here’” Almost invariably came the answer, “Sorry, but we have cashed so many already that we are practically out of change.” It is no unusual thing for business firms in Stratford to act as their customers’ bankers over week-ends, when the

banks elose at noon on the busiest day of the week, but yesterday, after the break of the holidays, the position was particularly unfortunate and a number of country folk returned home early with their cheques still uncashed. Numerous country folk called at the News office and were assisted as far as possible, but it is safe to say that retailers lost a fair amount of business. Except where special arrangements were made, most retailers held very little cash in their safes after banking prior io the holidays. PERSONAL. Miss Mary K. Stevenson’s resignation as sister at the Stratford Public Hospital was received with regret 'by the board yesterday. Toko scouts made a presentation to their scoutmaster, Mr. S. Coates, who is leaving the district’ to reside at Whakanai, at Toko last night. The assistantscoutmaster, Mr. H. Were, spoke eulogistically of the work Mr. Coates had done to establish firmly the scout movemetn in Toko. Messrs. R. and W. Grubb, after spending their Easter holidays with tbeir parents in Stratford, returned yesterday, the former to Wellington and the latter to Palmerston North. Mrs. W. Bowler, who has been spending a few days in Stratford, returned to Wellington yesterday. GENERAL. The winner of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society’s trophy for the heaviest eel caught by a member of the Stratford Eeel Chib prior to March 31 is Mr. W. Blair, of Huiroa, whose catch was officially weighed at 201 b. The various competitions inaugurated by the eel club will not finish until the end of May. Catches are still being reported daily. The leading weights are: Boys under 15 years, 211 b; girls under 15 wars, 21!b; ladies, 251 b; men, 261 b.

i received at the Stratford Hospital, Mrs. Birss, of Tangarakau, has donated a bed to the institution. The board acknowledged the gift at its meeting yesterday. ,

Thirteen passenger cars were neceS' sary on the mail train yesterday to cope with the heavy traffic after the holidays. The traffic was very busy over Easter and on Monday, in spite of the rain, over 150 people boarded the morning race train at Stratford for Hawera.

The St, Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Stratford, holds its chrysanthemujn show in the town hall on April 24. Schedules may be obtained from Miss E. Mackay or Mr. W. Pettigrew.