SERVICE ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 6

SERVICE ENDS

NIGHT MEDICAL PLAN CHAIRMAN CRITICISED A CONFERENCE REFUSED The president of the Auckland division of the British Medical Association, Dr. E. J. Cronin, announced last night that the night medical service which has been carried on from the premises of the St. John Ambulance Association has now ceased. He added that his association was still trying to secure a medical officer t$ carry on the service, and ill the meantime doctors would attempt to answer urgent night calls from their own regular patients. However, it was regretted that pressure of work made it impossible to do more than this, and patients having no regular doctor and needing urgent night attention could only betadvised to telephone to the Auckland Hospital or- the St. John Ambulance Association. Increasing Difficulties "For some time past," said Dr. Cronin, "the emergency night medical service has been carried on under in- < refusing difficulties. The withdrawal of the Hospital Hoard in .September necessitated a complete rearrangement, and the B.M.A. was able to secure the services of a returned medical officer to carry on for the months of November ami December. "At the same time, our special committee has been making inquiries with a, view to keeping the scheme going, as it has undoubtedly provided an efficient service to the community at night, and has given considerable relief to the over-worked general practitioners. Up to the present, no solution of the problem has been found, and, owing to unforeseen circumstances, the night service ceased as from to-night. "A special meeting of medical praetioners was called last week and was well attended. All aspects of the problem were discussed, and it was quite clear that, owing to the greatly increased work under the Social Security Scheme and the continued shortage of general practitioners duo to war conditions, it was impossible for the profession alone to provide an adequate night medical service for the city. Regrets Jor Refusal

"Alternative schemes were considered, and in endeavour was made to arrange a meeting with the chairman of the Hospital Board to discuss the possibilities of co-operation in the public interest. We regret that the chairman refuses to meet us. Sir. Moody has stated that in September last a qualified resident medical officer could not lie spared. We consider, however, that the position is now quite changed because a number of recently qualified doctors will shortly join the resident staff. If the chairman had considered the matter in n co-operative spirit, he could have engaged an additional house surgeon to enable the night service to be con I intied.

'■' This would have cost the board nothing, as our association pays both salarv and keep. Furthermore, when this officer was not fully occupied in the night service, he was available for emergency work at the hospital; thus relieving the resident medical staff."

COST OF HOSPITAL PROJECT AT DARGAVILLE (0.C.) DARGAVILLE, Thursday The chairman, Mr. W. Collins, reported to a special meeting of the Kaipara Hospital Board that plans were now complete for the erection of the new hospital at Dargaville. In May last, the board's architect estimated the cost at £25,000, but, due to rising costs, it will now be necessary to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for consent to a loan of £30,000. CHARGE OF MURDER SEAMAN FOR TRIAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday A seaman, Delone Surles, aged 25, again appeared before' Mr. Stout, S.M., yesterday on a charge of having murdered Robert Lane, a negro seaman, on an American merchant ship at a Wellington wharf on December 3. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. SUPPLIES OF LIQUOR SHORTAGE IN WELLINGTON (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday

"It could not be worse," said a prominent wine and spirit merchant in Wellington when asked the position of the Christmas liquor market. "We are a long way behind in the amount of bottled beer, and the spirits supply is infinitesimal.

"From one of our suppliers we have only received about 30 per cent of our beer requirements, and the others are little better. There have been various reasons given for the shortage, lack of bottles being the most usual. It is estimated that there are thousands of bottles in the hands of householders, and these may not. have been collected as freely as normally because of a dispute between the collectors and the bottle merchants. Shortage of labour is another popular reason for inability to fill orders.

"The spirits market is even worse than the beer. Import returns havo given some of the public an idea that merchants are holding big supplies of whisky but will not release them. This is not so. The high returns a few months ago were due to supplies coming into New Zealand in bond which were not intended for consumption. by the New Zealand public. Actually, because of the rising market price of whisky in Britain ami the static import licences issued on a basis of value, there is less whisky arriving for public consumption. and next year this will probably be reduced again by about 20 per cent. Other typos of spirits are similarly placed, and wines are also coming in m much smaller quantities." POSITION IN HAMILTON

HOTELS RATION CUSTOMERS (0.C.) • HAMILTON. Thursday

Beer is in short supply in Hamilton, and neither breweries nor hotels have been able to cope with the demand. All sales are strictly rationed, limited supplies being made available to each customer. So far no hotels have found it nocessary to observe restricted hours on account of the shortage of liquor.

RESTORATION POLL APPLICATION FOR RECOUNT (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Thursday Application was made to-day for a recount of votes in the Invercargill restoration poll on the ground that the count was incorrect. A deposit of £lO accompanied the application, which has been lodged with a magistrate within the statutory period of seven days. The Act states the magistrate shall, as soon as practicable after receiving an application and deposit, cause a recount to be made, and give at least two clays' public notice of the time and place of the recount.

HOSPITAL VEGETABLES (0.C.) AV HANGAR EI, Thursday

Arrangements have now been made for the Whaugarei Hospital to be supplied with certain classes of vegetables from State gardens. It is hoped that the supply will commence early next week. It will considerably reduce the hospital costs. In making this announcement, the chairman of the Whangarei Hospital Board, Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, said: "I feel that the public will be relieved to know that vegetables which have been thrown at the public expense will now he used for public institutions instead of being destroyed, as has been the policy in the past."