“WORSE THAN A BREWERY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1939, Page 6

“WORSE THAN A BREWERY”

ALARMING USE OF ALCOHOL. AT AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 27. Stating that from February 1 to February 28, totals of 300 oz of brandy, 837 bottles of stout, 183 bottles of ale, 810 syphons of soda water, 566 bottles of lemonade, 81 bottles of ginger-ale, Boz of whisky and one bottle of champagne had been consumed, the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr Allen J. Moody, said at a meeting of the board that there had been an alarming use of alcohol at the-hospital. “It has been worse than a brewery,” he added. Mr Moody said the matter came before him at first from the head office staff which had’ drawn up a comprehensive return of stimulants consumed at the hospital. The position shown was so alarming that he would be failing in his duty to the public if he did not attack what he thought was an astonishing state of affairs. Compared with the same period in 1938, said Mr Moody, the consumption of stimulants from February 1 to February 28 this year had increased as follows: Brandy 2610 z to 300 oz. stout 585 bottles to 847 bottles, ale 165 bottles to 183 bottles, soda water 758 syphons to 810 syphons, lemonade 679 bottles down to 566 bottles, ginger ale none to 81 bottles, whisky none to Boz, champagne none to one bottle. “In one month,” said Mr Moody, “837 bottles of stout were consumed. Heaven knows what they do with it. In 1935-36 altogether 41’63 bottles’of stout were consumed and in 1937-38 the figure was 7701. Ale in the same period went from 583 bottle to 1533. In 1931-32 ale and stout cost the board £25 while in 1937-38 the cost was £337. Brandy went from £l7 to £79 and aerated waters from £159 to £175. The figures do not include the annexe.

“I had the matter investigated,” said Mr Moody, “and the medical superintendent, Dr J. W. Craven, told me that some years ago instructions were given under a previous board that stimulants should not be given except under the signature of a member of the honorary staff. It had this system re-established last week. To show what has happened, compared with the week ended March 19 the consumption of stout dropped in one week from 230 bottle to 126 and ale from 56 bottles to 36 bottles. Brandy fell from 960 z to’36oz. With any luck we will have some of these items almost disappearing. This abnormal waste must be stopped.”