No Shortage Of Potatoes Faces Stratford Hospital

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 6

No Shortage Of Potatoes Faces Stratford Hospital

Supplies of potatoes at the Stratford hospital are sufficient to last until the end of October, it was stated at a meeting of the board yesterday, and there was no need to apply to the food controller for supplies. "A good supply of vegetables is available to the hospital from the garden," reported the gardener, Mr. W. G. Hayward. Potatoes grown at the hospital last season lasted until August 14, he added. The quantity grown was four tons one hundredweight, and arrangements to increase this quantity so as to provide sufficient supplies for the hospital's needs for the coming 12 months were made. Adequate stocks of potatoes were purchased to carry on until the garden's early ones were available, it was stated. Vegetables to the value of £25 17s 6d were supplied to the hospital and £5 8s 4d worth were sold. Depredations in the hospital gardens, particularly in the vegetable garden, were reported. Because of the importance of growing vegetables, the board •'iewed the occurrence seriously. One dog owner was written to, said the secretary, Mr. T. L. Penn, requesting him to ensure that further damage was not done or appropriate action would be taken. The owner of another dog would be similarly written to, added Mr. Penn. When the board was notified that the gardener was liable to be called in the next ballot, it was decided to consider at the next meeting the question of lodging an appeal. Hospitals were classed as essential undertakings, said the chairman, Mr. T. R. Anderson. With the present shortage of vegetables, an experienced gardener was very necessary at the hospital, particularly as the board had had unfortunate instances of in~ experienced men.