CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1936, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

WANDERING STOCK ON ROADS (To The Editor). {■sir. —Something shuold be done;- to prevent stock wandering on the roads. In Hokitika, if you leave your gate open for a night, or someone leaves it open for you, the lawn is disfigured next morning, and if you go out into the country, you can count anywhere between 50 and 100 animals straying about the roads. On several occasions I ha've counted no less than 75 between Koiterangi and town, and unless some drastic measure is taken to keep, stock off the roads, particularly in ".winter time, some one will be killed, that is certain. *

Quite a number of motor cyclists go out into the country to work, and at this time of the year, when going ■atid' coining in the dark, and when there is a fog or driving rain it is almost impossible to see a cow on the road till you are right up against it, and then, if you swerve short you fall, or if y° u do not swerve and the animal does not move, which is the case nine times out or ten when facing a bright light,

you collide. / J I have seen some very narrow escapes; as well as heard of others, and I consider drastic action cannot be taken, too soon for the safety of the travelling public. I wonder if the stock owners who allow .their animals to stray on*| the roads knowing it is'against the fi|\y to -do so, realise that, if an animal' of theirs is the cause of a fatal accident, they can be charged with manslaughter. They are certainly' taking a. risk that I would h offtake, and I think they would not take it if they realised what they are in for if one of their stock should cause death.

I am of the opinion also that the road authorities would be responsible for negligence. lam etc., MEMORABILIA. Hokitika, July 11, 1936.

FOOD AT HOSPITAL (To the Editor). Sir, Some of your readers may remember that, a year or so ago, I raised my voice in protest against the alleged bad food served to the patients at the Westland Hospital. An indignant rejoinder, coupled with emphatic denials, was made by the hospital authorities. But public opinion was, at that time, so apathetic that the disonsiion reached no definite conclus-

Lately, however, another voice, and one more influential and authoritative than mine, has taken up these cudgels. Dr Ulric Williams, of Wanganui, has recently condemned in no uncertain terms the common fare provided fin hospitals and schools, and last Tuesday, in an open letter to the people of New Zealand, he particularised Ifis indictment of New Zealand institutional diet.

He asserted that “the actual quality of food supplied, or of standard of preparation, defective ag these often are, re not the main points at issue. The danger lies in the almost invariable excess of denatured, acid-forming goods, such as meat, starch, and sugar, and the grave deficiency of vitamins and mineral salts.” Now, those of us who have taken the trouble to study the modern principles of dietetics are convinced that : Dr Williams is right. Furthermore, as these principles are in their essence quite simple, it is fairly easy, by a cursory examination, to determine whether a given diet is efficiently health-giving or not. Dr Williams has made a definite charge against the hospitals of New Zealand. As public servants, those responsible for the management of these hospitals are in duty bound to answer the charges, the Board of Westland Hospital not excepted. Possibly, the most valuable answer would take the form of a series of specimen menus, covering (sav) the average hospital diet for any one week. The dietetic student will then have something concrete to work upon, and it should not be difficult for him to pronounce: a valid judgment upon the food provided at . the Westland Hosptal.

Be it' noted that I am not reiterating my strictures upon this food. For all I know, the local authorities may have “bucked up” since my original disclosures, and they may now be providing entirely adequate fare to the patients in their charge. But, if this is so, it is only just that, in view of Dr Williams’ sweeping condemnation, Westland Hospital should be exonerated. This can best be done by a simple statement of exactly what food its patients receive.

I suggest, therefore, that the Board of Westland Hospital publish in your columns a sample set of representative menus. I ani etc. Wm. L. ROBERTSON. Hokitika, July 11, 1936.