HOSPITAL BOARD FARM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25178, 8 May 1947, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD FARM

BIG CONTRIBUTION TO VEGETABLE SUPPLY PRODUCE FOR CITY INSTITUTIONS Roughly otie-third of' the vegetables used by the Christchurch Public Hospital and other city institutions under the North Canterbury Hospital Board are now supplied from the board’s own seven-acre farm at Marshland. To that extent the board’s institutions are self-supporting, although the farm was run sit the Slight loss of £55 in the 1946-47 financial year. The development of this enterprise of the board has been considerable over the last four years. In 1943-44 the fatal produced 24 j tons of vegetables; in the two succeeding years production was over 50 tons; and to the last year it reached 64 tons. The small loss on the farm’s working is explained by the production at a loss, at times, of catrote and Other crops to mbet the needs of the hospitals. Repairs to buildings costing nearly £2OO were also paid tor out of farm revenue. The measure of the farm’s contribution to hospital maintenance is shown by the ibs't year’s figures fot expenditure on produce. The total cost of product [n 1946-47 was approximately £3500. and the Value of pro-‘L.-A 0 ™ the Marshland farm was £1857. In weight, carrots were by far the largest Item, amounting to ■more than 40,0001 b; cabbage was next, at 26,0001 b. Approximate weights of other vegetables produced were: tomatoes 12,0001 b, onions 11,0001 b, Silver beet 13,0001 b, celery 90001 b, turnips 70001 b, beans and marrbws about 60001b’ each, and parsnips and beetroot mere than 40001 b each. Lettuces, cucumbers and parsley Were also produced last year.