WHANGAREI HOSPITAL BOARD

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1928, Page 3

WHANGAREI HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING.

Tho monthly meeting of the Whangarei Hospital Board was held yesterday, Mr T. Ellis (chairman) presiding over an attendance of Mrs Donaldson, and Messrs J. A. S. Mac Kay, A. J. Murdoch, R. G. Hosking, E. Swann, J. N. I. McKay, F. Elliott and D. A. MtT Lean. Mr ,T. H. Marwick, and Dr Ha-11, Medical Superintendent, were in attendance. THE SMOKE NUISANCE. It was resolved-, after a brief discussion, to act upon engineering advice received, and to raise the height of the large chimney by 12 feet as an experiment towards reduction of the smoke nuisance. When an offer to supply puriri firewood at £1 7s 6d per cord was received, Mr Hosking asked whether it was intended to go further with the offer of tho Harbour Board to sell mangrove firewood.

The chairman replied that no action had been taken in view of the engineer’s recommendation that coal slack should be tried in the new burner. Mangrove wood had been effective, hut no less expensive. The Wilton Furnace and Coal Company Ltd., asked the board to intimate, the result of the experiments made with Kamo coal.

It was resolved to offer 3/ per ton for 200 tons.

DENTAL TREATMENT.

The Hon. J. A'. Young, Minister of Health, wrote, with regard to the dental treatment of country children at the Whangarei clinic, that the matter had been given serious consideration. The matter was reviewed recently, and the nurse was instructed to set apart Saturday mornings for urgent country cases. This was a departure from policy, and the Department could not see its way to go further in this direction, as it was endeavouring to get the best results with the service available, and to bring up-to-date the treatment of Whangarei schools, which was much behind. The reason that treatment was behind was due, no doubt, to the fact that, owing to persistent local pressure, previous nurses departed from the policy laid down. Dr'T. H. A. Valintine, DirectorGeneral of Health, reported that he had found that the clinic embraced nine schools in the neighbourhood of Whangarei. was the mpst distant, —12 miles away. He had discussed thd matter with the Doctor of the Division of Dental Hygiene, who was of opinion that it was impossible just now to provide another dental nurse at Whangarei so as to allow the more remote country schools to receive dental treatment. Mr Murdoch considered that notice should be taken of the statement that delay was occasioned not by calls from children from outside districts, but to shortage of practitioners. The chairman stated that previously children from outside schools had been treated. It was therefore decided to receive the letter, as the arrangement for country children to be treated on Saturdays had already been advertised. POOD CARRIER. Mr Hbsking submitted a proposal that some sort of dinner waggon should be provided for the conveyance of food to the T.B. ward in order that it might be taken there as hot as possible. He moved that a report be obtained as to whether any better arrangements could be made.

The motion, seconded by Cr J.A.S, Mac Kay, was carried.