MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21122, 24 March 1934, Page 6

MID-CANTERBURY

+ ASHBURTON PERSONAL Miss E. Wilson, who will shortly leave for Christchurch, was presented •with a toilet set by the members of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Choir. Miss M. Amos, whose marriage will take place shortly, was met by the members of the Baring Squat e Women's Hockey Club and presented with a set' of carvers. Miss Amos also received a dinner waggon fionthe combined Bible classes of the Methodist Church. Boy's Skull Fractured A fractured skull was received Roben Bloomfield. the three-year-old son of Mr and Mrs D. Bloomfield, of 1' Eton street, Ashburton, when ne fell from a gate. He was admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital. His condition i,s reported to be satisfactory. . , Magistrates Court A sitting of the Ashburton Magistrate's Court was held yesterday morning, when Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M.. presided. A middle-aged man, whose name was suppressed, was charged with stealing a cheQue for £9, issued in favour of his brother. Accused pleaded guilty and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon during the next six months. For allowing a cow to wander on a highway, J. G. Greyburn. of Hinds, was fined 5s and costs. He was allowed one month in which to pay the fine. ... , Oil a judgment summons. Miss Keating was ordered to pay the Irish Linen Spinning and Weaving Company of New Zealand, Ltd.. £2 16s on or j before April 23, 1934, in default two days' imprisonment. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of the following cases:— j A. Whiting v. D. Blunden, £2 Is 4d i and costs; F. Wilson v. P. Flett, £4 4s 8d and costs: F. Wilson v. W. R. Dunstan. £7 5s 3d and costs: New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association o£ Canterbury. Ltd., v. J. H. Smith. £1 (is 3d and costs; Ashburton Hospital Board v. B. M. Dickie. £6 7s 6d and costs. Farmers' Lodge Scheme Resulting from a suggestion made at the last meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, that the union should endeavour to secure the same privileges as enjoyed by benefit lodges under the Hospital Board's agreement, the organiser for the union (Mr J. Brown.) yesterday presented a .statement to the provincial executive showing the working of the lodges' agreement with the hospital, as well as other interesting facts of hospital finances.

Mr Brown staled that the report, which had been obtained from a good source, was most interesting not only to farmers interested but also to ail ratepayers in the county. The report stated that there were 2000 lodge patients, who contributed £isoo a year to the hospital. The present receipts at the hospital from all patients equalled £6OOO. A scheme whereby all patients using the hospital were covered by a rate of 15s per annum would result in a loss to the hospital of £ISOO per annum. This amount would have to be made up by increased taxation. In 1932-33 patients' fees totalled £5397, local bodies paid £6715, and Government subsidy was £5546. The taxpayers therefore provided £12.261. Any flat rate scheme of 15s per annum was going to reduce hospital income. That reduction had to be made up, resulting in the amounts received from taxation having to be increased. It was therefore practical for the union to come in on a flat rate for hospital maintenance if it were prepared to face increased hospital rates. Lodge capitation at 15s a member paid approximately £4O per cent. If the patients were charged fees the hospital would collect only 10 per cent. Of fees charged for the farming community patients the Hospital Board collected more than £SO per cent. There, were, therefore, two distinct classes of patients. If farming community patients at present paying more .than 50 per cent, had to maintain that rate of receipts, the flat rate payable by the farmer would have to be considerably greater than 15s per annum. The Director-General of Health and the committee of the British Medical Association were at present considering a scheme for national insurance which would cover everyone (lodge patients included). Mr W. T. Lill said that the rating of the Ashburton Hospital Board was the lowest in the South Island. Swimming The senior swimming championship for girls of the Ashburton High School has been won by Rhona Field with 30 points, while Rona Andrew was runner-up with 15 points. Dental Clinic The monthly meeting of the Ashburton East Dental Clinic was held on Thursday, when Mr E. H. Childs presided. ' The nurse reported that last month she treated the following new patients: —Ashburton East, 39; Wakanui. 3; Seafield 1. The total operations were 277, attendances 127, and patients re-exam-ined 25. She hoped to return to the Tinwald sub-base after Easter. It was resolved to notify those schools which had not paid their entrance fee or the annual levy that they would not be treated until such were paid. As this was the last meeting of the committee, the chairman thanked members for their support, the secretary (Mr G. V. jurby) for his assistance, and Nurse Campbell for the manner in which she IMKi carried out her duties.