NO VEGETABLES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 8

NO VEGETABLES

PROBLEM FOR HOSPITAL EFFORTS BY SECRETARY POSITION AT BOARD’S FARM “First, our Chinese greengrocer here in Thames told me he. had no supplies of them. (“Them” referred to a vegetable the shortage of which may not be referred to in print). “Then the Mayor of Thames got in touch with Auckland merchants but supplies were non-existent. Then I rang the Food Controller’s Auckland office, but I was told there was no authority there for issuance of them. I was told to get into touch with the office of the Food Controller in Wellington, which I did. No reply has yet been received.” This verbal survey was given by the secretary, Mr A. Neighbour, to Tuesday’s Hospital Board meeting concerning his efforts to procure other vegetables for the Thames Hospital. “And we have none at all?” asked one member. “None at all,” replied Mi" Neighbour. Temporary Supply Received Mr 0. W. Winder told the Board that he interceded with a local merchant and had secured a temporary supply to tide the hospital over. He said the nursing staff would have to go without the following day to allow the patients to be given them, but that action was not now necessary. Mr W. C. Kennedy, remarking that “there would have been plenty but for the interference of the Government,” moved that a telegram be sent to the Prime Minister of this country acquainting him with the situation. He had understood that the required vegetables were necessary and the patients should be able to get them. It was the first time in 40 years that there had been a shortage’ of them — and it was the first time' in 40 years that there had been Government control. Mr S. Brown;- I’ll second the motion, if it will do any good. The chairman: I wouldn’t press it. Mr Kennedy. Mr Kennedy then agreed to drop the motien. Previously, reporting on the Hospital Board’s farm at Tararu, Mr W. Madgwick, J.P., told members that “this whole business could have been solved quite easily if our plans had gone right.” Plenty of Men Available Tie said he and the secretary had contacted the local Placement Officer and had been told that plenty of men were available for planting vegetables. The Borough Commissioner had intimated that several vacant plots could be obtained for cultivation. Arrangements appeared to be complete —even to agreement on a good Government subsidy—to engage a proper gardener, with his own plough and horse, who would have put his heart into the job and made a great success of it. “He was just the man for the job and we could then have grown our own vegetables at a profit,” added Mr Madgwick, “but the Borough decided he was too good a man to lose and appointed him to their permanent staff. It was our loss.” Mr Madgwick -said that, in the absence of another man with the same qualifications, he would hesitate to recommend anyone to the Board to grow its vegetables. “It costs us £4O a month to buy . vegetables,” he added. “We would get fresher and purer vegetables than we do now. The pubs and other places at present get the pick; and what’s left comes to the hospital.”