PROVINCIAL SECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941, Page 10

PROVINCIAL SECTION

THE OAMARU DISTRICT

SCHEME 13 MEN SENT FROM OAMARU COUNCIL EXONERATED FROM BLAME CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT Mr E. D. Watts (chairman) reported to the • damaru Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night that he and the secretary (Mr Henry Hay) had waited on Mr Spence (district employment officer) with reference to scheme 13 men being sent from -Oamaru to outside work. He said that in reply to the representations Mr Spence stated that he had received definite instructions from the heads of departments that the men had to be ■ent to the forestry scheme at Gore and to the irrigation scheme at Mount Somers. Men were selected from Oamaru to fill positions in these two schemes. When asked whether his department would grant a subsidy if the Oamaru Borough Council reconsidered subsidy work for these men. Mr Spence replied that possibly it would not, as the men had 'to accept the positions offered, owing to the shortage of labour in the Forestry and Public Works Departments. Moreover, scheme 13 did not have the funds to carry on that work indefinitely. In the meantime, Mr Watts added, the matter had been brought up again in the Oamaru Borough Council, and once again it had been turned down. Supplementing the chairman's report, Mr Hay said that Mr Spence indi- ated that the Government considered the two works to which the men had been sent of major importance. The men called had to go and were given preference even over local men. Possibly it would turn in favour of Oamaru in time, if irrigation or forestry were undertaken in North Otago, as men would be brought In from outside districts. Mr Watts said the Forestry Department had certain votes to spend, and could not get outside labour, and men were taken from Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru. The Public Works Department was also using scheme 13 men. and was putting these men on at the full wage. Mr H. S. Stevens said the report showed that the Oamaru Borough Council could be completely absolved from blame. The council, even if .willing to employ the men under scheme 13. could not have got them. , .. „ Mr Watts: If, for example, the council wanted men for reserve C, Mr Spence indicated that there was no guarantee that scheme 13 men would be supplied.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY MEETING INCORPORATED UNDER SOCIETIES ACT Mr E. D. Watts (chairman) presided at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. There were present: Messrs H. C. Jeffery. L. A. Canning, A. H. Markham, H. S. Stevens, D. S. Bain, F. J. Blackgrove, and M. J. Hanley. A recommendation by Messrs Hislop and Creagh and Main that the chamber's registration under the Companies Act should be allowed to lapse was approved. The writers further recommended that steps should be taken to incorporate the chamber under the Incorporated Societies Act, 1908.—The chairman and the secretary (Mr Henry Hay) were authorised to make inquiries from the Dunedin Chamber and the Associated Chambers before any further steps were taken in the matter. The Associated Chambers of Commerce wrote asking for the views of the Oamaru Chamber concerning a suggestion by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce that certain articles exempt from sales tax might be added to the list, and others included in the list might be deleted.—The letter was referred to Messrs Canning an-1 Stevens, the secretary being authorised to forward any recommendations they might make. The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce wrote with reference to the Vehicle Impressment Emergency Regulations.—lt was decided to request Mr B. B. Walton to act as the chamber's representative on the Vehicle Impressment Committee. It was decided to request the Railways Department to make a stop for the Sunday excursion trains at the Severn street crossing. Two new members were elected. DISTRICT NURSING SCHEME By "Florence Nightingale" (Contributed) It was once said of an Australian Prime Minister that he was so busy watching the side-shows that he did not see the elephants and the tigers go by. In these days of growing materialism, let it not be said of us that we were so busy watching the petty cash box that we did not see the great humanitarian projects for the benefit of mankind go by. One of the great humanitarian movements that is engaging the attention of the man in the street and the woman in the home to-day is the district nursing scheme. To relieve the public mind at the outset from any suspicion that the scheme is but another new-fangled idea, it should be pointed out that it is functioning successfully under no fewer than 17 hospital boards throughout, the length and breadth of New Zealand. It is not necessary to particularise these boards, but it is essential'that the fact should be recorded, and it may be added that the sphere in which these boards are operating the scheme extends as far north as Auckland and as far south as Wellington in the North Island, and from North Canterbury to Invercargill in the South Island. Pushing Prejudice Aside If we are to take full advantage of our opportunities in helping to build a better order, it is imperative that we should all pull together. When Florence Nightingale went to the Crimea, one of her greatest difficulties was the prejudice among tho army surgeons against the introduction of women nurses. Red tape

also did its best to smash her. She was informed that she could not get surgical dressings, etc., from the stores until certain vouchers had been put in, and duly authorised and signed. When the wounded began to arrive. " The Lady wltli the Lamp" had evidently mislaid her fountain pen, and was unable to fill in the vouchers, so she commandeered a male orderly, and the stores were opened with a pick-axe, and all requirements for the wounded soldiers speedily secured. I£ the spirit of Florence Nightingale was abroad to-day, the District Nursing Scheme would be in operation in North Otago to-morrow. Why? Because it is in the immediate .interests of the welfare and health of the people. There seems to be an idea abroad today that the way to safeguard the health of the people is to build more hospitals. To combat this illusion the District Nursing Scheme offers a saner and less official plan for promoting the health of the people and for keeping more people out of hospital. '

Hospitals Overcrowded

To-day the hospitals are over-crowded, and the one' bright light on the horizon to relieve this unhappy state of affairs is the District Nursing Scheme. Here is what one hospital board says: "Many patients would otherwise be in hospital, but with a trained nurse calling regularly, many people are able to care for the sick in their own homes. This service relieves the hospital of from 5 to 10 patients daily." And listen to this: "During the year our district nurse was unable to cope with all the calls made, and the services of auxiliary nurses residing in the district have been made use of." For those living at a distance who are unable to avail themselves of hospital treatment, the District Nursing Scheme is imperative. For those convalescing after hospital treatment is a friend in need. The gigantic building programmes which are either being planned or executed bv hospital boards to-day, seem to be based on the slogan—" Get our people to the hospital." The District Nursing Scheme reverses this with a more hopeful and homely slogan, " Get the hospital to our people." What about, it North Otago? AMATEUR ATHLETICS NORTH OTAGO ASSOCIATION i The president (Mr R. E. Dimick)' presided at the annual meeting of the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association on Tuesday night. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted, the finances being in a very satisfactory position. The president stated that since, there were so many members overseas, the responsibility of keeping the club's activities alive had fallen mostly on the junior members, who had definitely made their presence felt in the life of the club. They were indebted to Private A. Clark (overseas) for presenting a shield for the junior competition. Mr Dimick mentioned the success of Oamaru competitors at other meetings, and said that the club was on the upward grade. Great benefit would be felt, he said, in the coming season, owing to the acquisition of their own sound system, which should prove a very profitable investment. The president made reference to the generous gesture of the club captain, Gunner A. L. Fagg, who had purchased a genuine Finnish discus in Australia and forwarded it to his old club, and, furthermore, as he knew that the women's club was in need of one, he had procured two in Cairo and sent them out to New Zealand. Election of Officers

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Patrons—Miss J. B. Wilson, the Mayor (Mr J. C. Kirkness). Messrs R. A. McDowell, P. Milner, F. Cooney, L. K. Familton, the Rev. Bro. McCarthy; president, Mr R. E. Dimick; vice-presidents—Dr R. Orbell, Dr L. Douglas, Messrs O. E. Martin, J. Simpson, W. Kinder, J. M. Forrester, A. Sallis, H. Woodham, J. Tait, R. Elder, G. Jones. G. Cameron, L. J. Smith, F. Ericson, L. Bryant, H. C. Jeffery, J. Ross, H. Chalmers, E. D. Watts, N. Gilchrist, H. Smith; secretary, Mr T. Croft; treasurer, Mr D. A. McPhail; reporting secretary, Mr R. Elder; club captain, Mr V. Bain; vice-club captain, Mr B. Paton; committee—Misses Z. Horton, A. Nimmo, Messrs R. McCone, R. Ingles, all officers (ex officio); coachesMessrs R. Dimick, R. Elder, G. Cameron; timekeepers—Messrs H. Benson, D. Crawley, L. J. Smith, J. C. Stevenson, R. Self, J. L. O'Connor; honorary auditor, Mr N.i H. Colquhoun; delegate to the Otago Centre, Mr D. W. McGregor; honorary surveyor, Mr R. Banks; handicapper, Mr R. Dimick; sports secretary, Mr R. Ingles. It was decided to record a minute in appreciation of the services of the retiring timekeeper, Mr Sloan, who has removed from Oamaru. General Opening day was fixed for Saturday. October 25, and it was decided that the subscriptions should remain as in previous years. .. ... It was agreed to make some recognition of the services of the honorary auditor (Mr N. H. Colquhoun), and the matter was left in the hands of the president and secretary. „ _ ... .. . It was moved by Mr H. Smith that Christmas parcels should be sent to the members of the club overseas, and members of other clubs who had given generous support to the club in the past. A sub-committee was set up to deal with this matter, consisting of Miss Z. Horton, and Messrs R. Dimick, R. Elder, J. Ross. SHIPPING ACTIVITIES PORT OF OAMARU High Water.—October 9: 5.25 a.m. and 5.56 p.m. * . „ Coastal Movements The Wainui will load on Wednesday next for Wellington, Napier and Gisborne. via ports. _ The Waipahi is due on Tuesday, October 21, to load for Wellington, Nelson and New Plymouth, via ports. The Waipiata is expected about Saturday to load for Wellington and Auckland via Timaru and Lyttelton. AMUSEMENTS Majestic Theatre.—Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne. Albert Dekker, and other well-known stars will appear to-night in the South Pacific story, '■ Seven Sinners. Opera House.—" Little Men is a sequel to Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women. Kay Francis and Jack Oakie play tiie main leads. " The Devil Commands will precede the screening of this attraction. . PERSONAL Mr John McLean. Ure street. Oamaru,. has been appointed by the Government to the vacancy on the .Oamaru Fire Board caused by the death of Mr William Couper. EASTERN DISTRICTS BASKET- ( BALL In the representative game between Otago C team and Eastern Districts, at Palmerston, on Saturday, Otago defeated Eastern Districts 21—16. Eastern Districts were leading in the first spell, the half time score being 10 points to 9 m their favour. Otago, however, took the lead at the beginning of the second spell and retained it. The basketball season has been declared closed, the Waikouaiti A team carrying oft* the banner for the Saturday competition, with the Flag Swamp team two points behind.