NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Washington Legation,

The exemption of the staff of the New Zealand Legation to be established in Washington from the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1912, is provided for in a notice published in last night's Gazette.

To See for Themselves,

The Hospital Board decided last night to extend an invitation to members of all contributing local bodies in the Wellington district to pay a visit to the central hospital on November 13, first to visit grounds and wards and then to meet the board in a general discussion of hospital problems and needs of the future. Angling Prospects. All the waters in the Hutt River system and south of Otaki are in splendid shape for fly fishing during the weekend, states the weekly report on rivers and streams issued by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The rivers and streams are clear and the waters are in perfect condition. In the Wairarapa-Manav. atu district thel same conditions prevail, and if the wet southerly lifts the angling should be fairly good. Asked to Say "Please." "Step up here, young man," ordered the chairman, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., at a sitting of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Auckland on Wednesday, to an appellant who had just left the witness box. "What did i you say when you were leaving?" the chairman asked. "I asked this gentleman to say 'please,'." replied appellant, who indicated the secretary of the board, Mr. G. E. Mortimer, who had requested him to stand down. Appellant added that he thought he was entitled to the courtesy. "Well, we did not like the way you said it," said the chairman. "However, I suppose you do not know any better. Will you please leave the room," he added, with special emphasis on the "please." Cigarette Shortage. Australia, no less than Great Britain, is feeling the shortage of cigarettes, but not yet so acutely. Tobacco rationing is not likely to be relieved by importations of Rhodesian leaf to the extent expected when the trade agreement with Southern Rhodesia was negotiated early this year. Large supplies have been diverted from Rhodesia to the United Kingdom, and to supply the fighting services. Australia could not, therefore, obtain the imports that had been expected. Cutting off of supplies of tens of millions of British manufactured cigarettes formerly imported into Australia accentuated difficulties, because to draw from the only alternative source meant dollar expenditure. Overcrowded Hospitals. Overcrowding at the Wellington Public Hospital was referred to in a report presented to the annual meeting of the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association last evening by the hospital chaplain, the Rev. F. J. Usher. ''In last year's report your chaplain foreshadowed an increasing number of patients in hospitals as the result of recent legislation," he said. "This has proved to.be the case. New accommodation has been provided, yet a serious state of overcrowding still exists. This advance is reflected in the numbers returned as Presbyterians. For the past year the total was 2460, an increase of more than 400 on the previous year. Within a few years the number has doubled, and, with a long waiting list of less urgent cases, there is little likelihood of a check." Hospital Dental Work. The dental department of the Public Hospital has for a considerable time been most seriously overtaxed by the demands upon it, and, as was reported at a recent meeting of the Hospital Board, the greater part of the fees due have not been collected. Last evening, upon the recommendation of the policy and finance committee, the board decided that in future those able to pay for dentures and dental work must put down a substantial deposit, approximately half the regular charge, and that preference in time of treatment, other than in urgent cases; will be given to those unable to pay. The present practice of not handing over the dentures until the balance of fees is forthcoming is to be adhered to for those able to pay. After-care Needed. A suggestion that more could be done with the after-care of children after they had left homes or other institutions was made at the annual meeting of the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage and Social Service Association last evening by'the chairman, Mr. A. A. Kirk. He said that one of the regrettable features of social life today was that parents seemed to be losing effective control of the young people, and it was unfortunate that something could not be done before boys or girls got into trouble, instead of afterwards. Boys and girls had to leave homes when they were about sixteen, and hostels were needed for them after then, not only for children who had been in orphanages, but for the many young people who came from various parts of the country to work. "Body- Snatching." Not the vile practice of Burke and Hare, but the coaxing of workers to leave their job to go to other, employers is prevalent in Australia. That is what Mr. Holt, ex-Minister of Labour, told the Economic Society in Sydney. Mr. Holt revealed that since the outbreak of war 16,000 men had been trained as fitters and turners and toolmakers, while 6000 were now in the course of training. There had been'a total increase of about 450,000 in employment, including men in the fighting services. In the next year it was estimated at least 240,000 more persons would be required for the war effort. The labour position was now reaching the "poaching" stage—the stage when labour was not available and employers began "body-snatching" from other employers. This was an unhealthy state which would require careful watching and control. Soldier Patients From Afar. Why was it necessary for the Army authorities to direct that all soldier patients from Trentham should enter the Wellington Hospital for operations or special treatment? asked Mr. J. Purvis at the meeting of the Hospital Board last night. There had been many instances, he said, where men from north and south had been sent away from camp on sick leave for a fortnight or three weeks as a preliminary to entering hospital for operation or treatment, for which they were ordered to report at the Wellington Hospital, already far more than full. Why, he asked, could not Timaru or Auckland men go into hospital at Timaru or Auckland, where they spent their sick leave and where their parents and wives were, instead of being brought back to Wellington? The Medical Superintendent, Dr. J. Cairney, said that he could not reply offhand. Most of the men ordered from camp to. hospital required specialist treatment, and where such treatment was ordered there was a duty to afford it, but hospital pressure was such that even service patients had to wait at times. The matter is to be discussed. with the Army authorities.