A QUESTION OF POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1931, Page 8

A QUESTION OF POLICY

PRIVATE DOCTORS AT HOSPITAL.

BOARD DISFAVOURS PROPOSAL.

A request from Air. N. B. Fryday, Ngaere, that his medical adviser, Dr. Armstrong, Stratford, be permitted to operate upon him at the Stratford public hospital met with disfavour when it was considered by the Hospital Board yesterday. Mr. Fryday made a similar application some weeks ago but the board refused to grant it. Air. Fryday then applied to the Department of Health, from which a letter was received yesterday. The -department advised that representations had been made to the Government by Air. Fryday that steps be taken to a'lter the regulations affecting the Stratford hospital to permit Dr. Armstrong to operate on him in the hospital. . The department had advised Mr. Fryday that it was within the powers of any hospital board to determine whether the patients should have the right to be attended in the hospital by their own doctor, and neither the Minister nor the Director-General could require a board to extend that right. “To <*rant this request would mean going definitely against the policy, of the 'board,” said the chairman, Mr. W. L. Kennedy. He had spoken to the medical superintendent, Dr. D. Steven, who had said that he had no objection to Dr. Armstrong's being present at the operation, but Mr. Kennedy maintained that the superintendent must have full control at the hospital. “I am not in favour of brushing aside the board’s policy and/ permitting private practitioners, to , operate at the public hospital,” he statea.' •; ■■ ‘ : i . ./

To Hr. E. Marfell the chairman replied that Mr. Fryday understood- that Dr. Armstrong could attend the- operation.

“But Mr. Fryday wants two doctors besides Dr. Armstrong to attend,” said Mr. Max Gernhoefer. Mrs. M. T. Phillips: “Mr. Fryday had better go to a private home.” It was dangerous to’ establish a precedent that would open the doors of the hospital to private practitioners, said Mr. J. T. Belcher. The chairman moved that the request be refused but that Dr Armstrong could attend the operation with the- consent of the superintendent. Mr. Marfell seconded and the motion was carried unanimously, TANGARAKAU NEWS. HEAVY RAIN EXPERIENCED. An enjoyable euchre and dance party was held in the Tangarakau hall on Thursday by the ( school committee. There was an excellent .attendance in spite of the inclement weather. A good number patronised the euchre tables, the prize-winners being Mrs. H. Dowman and Mr. D. Davis. Aggregate prizes are to be awarded at the end of the season. The Tangarakau, orchestra provided the music for dancing, and Mr. J. Carrick was master of ceremonies. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss D. Selby and Mr. W. McCrory. Supper' was served by the ladies’ committee. Those engaged in outside work-arc labouring under difficult conditions as. a result of the continuous heavy rain. Minor slips are occurring in the cuttings, and work-in the papa and pug cuttings would be more effective if buckets were used instead of The majority of workers are employed some distance from their homes, which means ten or eleven hours daily in clothes and mud. I GENERAL ITEMS. There is at the Stratford hospital an elderly male patient who has often disobeyed the instructions of the medical superintendent and of the matron to the extent of leaving the hospital without. permission. He will be advised that should he leave, the grounds again without permission he will be discharged from the institution.

That some people in of charitable aid had been using exceptional quantities of, tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, bottled sauces, tinned foods and tobacco was disclosed at last month’s meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board. Further misapplications of charitable aid benefits were commented on at the board meeting yesterday when members mentioned that recipients of aid went to pictures, dances, euchre parties and to races. In one ease quoted a man in receipt of aid borrowed 2s 6d from a neighbour to send his'wife to a dance in a taxi. Actions of that nature by charitable patients only reflected, upon their own heads because the board took the view that if such'people could obtain cash for luxuries it was only right that the quota of aid afforded them should be decreased in order that money devoted to luxuries could be diverted into more necessitous channels.

The Pukengahu football team, to play Cardiff at Cardiff to-morrow will be picked from the following:’McGuinness, Old, Harper, Blackntock (2), Walsh (2), Goodwin, Harris, Coffee, Davidson, Death, Brown, Price, Bloomfield, Bilski, Phillips (2). • • STRATFORD OPERATIC SOCIETY. “PLAY YOUR KING” TO-NIGHT. To-night will witness the premiere performance of W. Graeme-Holder’s new musical comedy, “Play Your King,” which will be staged at the Town Hall. Stratford, by the Stratford Amateur Operatic Society. An exceptionally long cast of players is headed by Misses Myra Wilson, Hope Grant and Vonny Sheahan, Mrs. R. J. Laird, Messrs. A. Lord Macpherson, J. Howard, A. E. Pollock, Murray Thompson, R. K. Barron, M. Moore and W. GraeineJHolder, the author, who plays the comedy role of Edgeware Hogg "at the unanimous request of the society. Smaller parts are played by Misses E. Gadsby and J. Hopkins, Messi’s. W. Payne, V. J. Henderson, Gulbransen, A. G. Cover, R. J. Laird, C. Brown, P. Joblin and D. Bain. Supported by a strong chorus and orchestra, the cast gives a fine interpretation of a colourful and exciting story, and the hazardous progress of King Mitzlm of Boronia is .told with verve. Singing and dancing add sparkle to the production and aid the story. There is not a dull moment in the whole performance, and, what may be described as unprecedented in amateur stage work, there are no cheap la/aghs at the expense of local identities. Clean comedy pervades the story from the moment the curtain rises on a valet’s attempt to play host to a king, to the final scene, when King Mitzlm renouneecs the tradition of his country. Special attention has been paid to lighting and grouping.