HOSPITAL BOARD YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1934, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD YEAR

CHAIRMAN REVIEWS WORKING. MOST ITEMS UNDER ESTIMATEA satisfactory year’s operations have been carried out by the Stratford Hospital Board, according to a review of the past 12 months by the chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy) at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the board. Most of the items were under the estimates, patients’ fees were higher than expected, the maternity block continued its excellent record and the transactions of the board with its officers and other organisations were satisfactory, said Mr. Kennedy. The year’s working was to be considered very satisfactory, said the chairman. Nearly every item was kept under the estimate and that, in the face of the doubts entertained at the beginning of the year, was a successful conclusion to the period. Patients’ fees were well above what was anticipated, though there was a section of the community which seemed to have no moral responsibility, besides those from whom no payment could be expected. “It is satisfactory to note that there is a brighter tone in the financial world, there having been a very decided improvement in the prices ruling for wool and in the stock markets,” Mr. Kennedy continued. “A better form of marketing New Zealand’s dairy produce leads us to hope for a turn toward better things, hope for a turn toward better things. Our hope lies in the prosperity of Britain. There we find a general note of optimism, a new spirit, a new hope towards better times. Trade is better, unemployment is decreasing, a substantial surplus is shown in the Budget. This will be, and is, reflected in this Dominion and not anywhere more so than through the social services rendered by hospital boards.” The health of the people was the first consideration and in this respect the board could congratulate itself that the health of the district had been good. The number of patients was only 621 for the year, while the number of patients in the isolation ward had not been less for a number of years, there having been only 39. Twice the ward had been closed for a considerable time and was so at present. The addition of a sump room to the isolation ward was proving a valuable accessory. The Sanders bequest received during the year made it possible to provide £2OO towards an ambulance, the public subscribing £243- towards its purchase and equipment. During the year the board had lost by death its secretary for 25 years, Mr. T. H. Penn, and a member for 16 years, Mr. J. O’Neill. Mr. T. L. Penn was appointed in -his father’s place. During the year there were considerable charges on eastern Taranaki in that the medical associations of Tangarakau and Whangamomona were merged into one association under an executive. Miss D. M. Workman, the newly-appointed district nurse, was giving every satisfaction and Nurse B. Birss did much good work. Efforts made to have Raekohua Road metalled did not meet with any success and it followed that during the coming winter the district nurse would find it difficult to visit the Tangarakau district. The relations between the district friendly societies and the board continued to be of the most satisfactory and friendly nature.

PERSONAL. \ A motion of sympathy with Mr. M. Gemhoefer, Toko, a member of the board at present an inmate of the hospital, was passed by members of the Stratford Hospital Board yesterday. Sir Hubert Wilkins was entertained by Mr. and Mrs. P. Thomson at their residence in Hamlet Street during his visit to Stratford. Those present included the Hon. R. Masters and Mrs. Masters, Dr. and Mrs. D. Steven, Dr. and Mrs. W. M. Thomson (Hawera), Mr. and Mrs. A. Coleman (Hawera), Dr. Glasgow (Christchurch), and Miss Emma Thomson (New Plymouth).

ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. To-day and to-morrow will be important days for owners of good sheep dogs and for settlers in the Tututawa, Puniwhakau, Taurakawa and Makahu districts, for they will mark the holding of the 1934 sheep dog trials conducted by the Mangaehu club on Mr. LeVi Bunn’s property at Puniwhakau. There are three main classes, the long head, the huntaway and the short head, each of which also carries a novice prize in addition to the open competition. A fourth class, that of a local maiden huntaway event, with the Stratford and Whangamomona counties as boundaries, also figures on the programme. At a meeting of settlers of the Wharehuia, Te Popo and Kupe districts held recently, it was decided to again hold a day of three trials for local maiden sheep dogs similar to that instituted so successfully last year. These trials, the short head, long head and huntaway, will be staged on a suitable course in Mr. W. E. Forbes’ property at Kupe. The settlers are fortunate in securing the services of Mr. W. V. Mclntyre, Tarata, to act as judge. Local maiden boundaries have been fixed as Stratford in the south, Gordon Road in the east, Huiroa in the north, and Tariki in the west. During the afternoon, Mr. McIntyre will give a demonstration of heading and huntaway with his well known trial dogs. The annual meeting of the Stratford Association Football Club will be held in Smith’s rooms, Stratford, at 8 p.m. to-morrow. The annual meeting of, the Eltham branch of the Women’s Division will be held on Saturday. All interested are invited to attend. The fourth annual seven-a-side Rugby Union tournament for the Kerin. Cup will be played at the Toko domain on Thursday. Games start at 11 a.m. As the leading clubs of Central and South Taranaki have entered 18 teams there should be an excellent display of Rugby, particularly as the ground is in good order and lends itself to the spectacular, open type of play characteristic of matches between teams with only seven men each. There will be a refreshment booth on the ground. At the dance in the evening the trophies, seven miniature cups for the winners and seven medals for the runners-up, wil be presented. Curd’s free bus will leave the Stratford Post Office at 7.45 p.m.