STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 179, 9 July 1900, Page 2

STRATFORD.

(From our own correspondent.)

The election for tlie (Jounty Councillorship of the South ltiding of the County, rendered vacant by the death of Mr. Taylor, resulted in the return of Mr. J. Thomas, who beat Mr. N. Fryday by one vote. Mr, Thomas is an energetic settler, and should do good work for his Riding. j The meeting summoned by the Mayor to discuss the advisability of moving in the direction of getting a hospital built at Stratford, was only moderately attended. Amotion favouring the proposal was carried With all due deference to liis Worship, 1 think it would be a mistake to build a hospital here as yet. As Dr. MacGregor, the Hospital Inspec or, states, the undue increase of small hospitals impairs their efficiency. It is bettor ito have a few largo ones, rather than many small ones. The stud' can be made larger and more specialised, and expenses can be cut down. No doubt there havebeon cases in which much suffering has been caused before patients can be tiken into town. But this could be avoided if an ambulance van was kept in readiness here, and an ambulance car was available on the railway. At the meeting Mr. R. Dingle hit the right nail on the head by declaring that there were at present too many members on the Board, and consequently travelling expenses, etc., mounted too high. He considered four members would be sufficient for the management of affairs. Messrs. Thacker and Benjamin's new stable (a brick building) are now well under way. They will be a credit to the town.